Walker says he's open to adding money for schools, roads, UW

WATERTOWN, Wis. (AP) - In the face of opposition from fellow Republicans, Gov. Scott Walker said Thursday that he's open to adding more money for public schools, the University of Wisconsin and roads as long as property taxes are still cut as he originally proposed.

Walker is getting the most pushback from Republicans who control the Legislature over his plans for cutting UW's budget by $300 million, holding public school funding flat over two years, and borrowing $1.3 billion for roads.

Walker made clear Thursday, following two days of criticism from Republican leaders, that he was willing to negotiate all of those items.

"Our only bottom line is really that we want to continue the property tax relief and the general backbone of what's in the budget, but we're willing to work with them on how," Walker told reporters after giving a speech at Maranatha Baptist University.

Walker's budget would result in the owner of a median-valued home saving $10 on property taxes over the next two years.

The UW proposal is the signature item in Walker's budget, which comes as he's also preparing for a likely presidential run. Walker, who attended Marquette University but did not graduate, wants to give the 26 UW campuses more autonomy and freedom from state laws and oversight. But in exchange, he argues, UW should absorb a $300 million cut, which amounts to 13 percent of its state aid and 2.5 percent of its total funding.

University leaders, Democrats and other critics have pushed back against the cut, saying it will lead to layoffs, damage the university and put pressure on raising tuition after a four-year freeze.

"The cut is too big," University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow told system regents in Madison on Thursday. "That's what we need to work to get people to reconsider. We can't do this with a cut of this magnitude."

Public school leaders were also objecting to Walker's aid proposal for K-12 schools. It would keep school aid and revenue limits essentially flat over the next two years, while also eliminating next year an additional $150 in per-pupil aid that is outside the revenue limits. That money is restored at a higher level in the second year of the budget.

Walker also wants to make public schools pay for vouchers for students who decide to attend private schools, while also allowing unlimited enrollment in the program statewide.

School leaders argue that the aid drop in the first year along with the shift in voucher funding will devastate budgets.

"We have another state budget out of Madison that pushes the pain back onto our public schools and universities and once again does not fix our broken school funding system," said state Superintendent Tony Evers.

Republican lawmakers, including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, have said they want to see a more detailed analysis of how the changes affect schools before taking a position.

Republicans are also voicing concerns about Walker's plan to borrow $1.3 billion for roads. Vos said he would favor raising vehicle registration fees, rather than borrowing so much.

Walker said Thursday there likely will be more money available to address all three areas after new tax collection estimates are released later this spring.

"They'll probably put some additional money in UW," Walker said of the Legislature. "I don't know what that amount will be. ... They'll probably put some more money into public education. They may, potentially as a third item, make some changes and put some more money into the transportation budget. All three of which we're willing to work with the Legislature on."

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