MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin state agencies are cutting $300 million, including $45 million at the University of Wisconsin System, under the most recent round of reductions Gov. Tony Evers ordered due to losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Evers in July called on agencies to cut $250 million from their current budgets. His administration on Tuesday announced that state agencies would be returning $300 million to the state budget, $50 million more than what was sought. That is in addition to $70 million in cuts Evers made for the previous budget year, which ended on June 30.
“There is no doubt that state agencies must make difficult decisions,” said Joel Brennan, secretary of Evers’ Department of Administration. “This pandemic has affected every community in Wisconsin, and families across our state have also had to make tough decisions.”
Nearly half the savings, $120 million, is coming from savings under the Medicaid program. UW’s was second highest, followed by $31 million at the Department of Health Services and $28 million at the Department of Corrections.
Further cuts are expected in the two-year state budget Evers will deliver to the Legislature early next year.
