UW system considering halving raises
MADISON, Wis. (AP) University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly has halved his recommendation for faculty pay raises because of the growing financial strains on the state government.
Reilly said he is recommending annual raises of 2.5 percent for faculty and staff rather than 5.2 percent to help address what could be the worst budget deficit in the state's history.
Reilly said Gov. Jim Doyle's warning of two-year, $5.4 billion budget deficit made it unrealistic to push for the higher annual raises in the UW. The deficit's impact on the UW System will become more apparent when Doyle submits his two-year budget proposal to the Legislature in February.
"For now, we must demonstrate that our public university is sensitive to the public's dire financial situation," Reilly said in a statement.
The UW Board of Regents recommended annual raises of 5.2 percent in 2006, after competing universities began luring faculty away with better pay.
The Legislature and Doyle approved raises of 2 percent and 3 percent in the current two-year budget.
UW System spokesman David Giroux said the board will consider Reilly's new recommendation when it meets next Thursday and Friday.
Giroux said every 1 percent in raises costs about $9.5 million more per year.
Nov 29, 2008 at 12:35 p.m.
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Try to remember that in government, when they increase spending less than they want to it's a cut back, and if they don't increase spending at all, it's referred to as irresponsible draconian cuts. We don't now what an actual decrease in spending would be called as we have never had one.
Nov 29, 2008 at 10:46 a.m.
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If you don't have enough money, you don't give raises. Especially when using taxpayer dollars. STOP spending if you don't have money. At least you have a job! I haven't had a raise at my job in 2 years.
Nov 29, 2008 at 10:02 a.m.
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So the state (via the UW system) is determined to INCREASE budget spending after knowing they have a severe shortfall in revenue...nice.
Nov 29, 2008 at 9:41 a.m.
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When I first looked at it, I thought that it said "having raises".
It turned out that I was right. ;-)
Nov 29, 2008 at 7:34 a.m.
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Why not pay for performance?
Nov 29, 2008 at 12:42 a.m.
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Only if you don't know what halving means.
Nov 28, 2008 at 8:18 p.m.
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Poor headline...At first it sounds like having raises...not 1/2 ing raises. Sounds like a pay raise instead of a pay cut.
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