MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – With the Universities of Wisconsin making changes at a number of two-year branch campuses within the system, lawmakers are now looking to provide relief.
A pair of bills before the state legislature could award money to the counties that own the buildings the school operate out of.
“For the counties now to go on through and to renovate and make changes to adapt will require substantial amount of money,” said Fond du Lac County Executive Sam Kaufman during a public hearing before the Assembly Committee on Colleges & Universities on Jan. 10.
Richland, Fond du Lac and Washington counties could each receive up to $2 million in the form of grants. The bills would require the money to be used to help redevelop buildings that are, or will no longer be used for, academic purposes related to the universities.
“The money’s not available if you reconstitute your two-year UW campus,” said State Rep. Jerry O’Connor (R-Fond du Lac) in an interview with FOX 11 Wednesday.
It’s in response to the Universities of Wisconsin deciding to move in a different direction for some two-year colleges.
“The county is certainly not responsible for this happening and it’s a big expense in a county budget,” said O’Connor.
The UW-Oshkosh Fond du Lac campus will end in-person learning at the end of the current academic year. UW-Platteville at Richland and UW-Milwaukee at Washington County will be closing altogether.
Fond du Lac, Washington, and Richland counties own the buildings the schools operated out of. Initially, the bills only included Richland County. An amendment later added Fond du Lac and Washington Counties.
In a public hearing earlier this month, lawmakers recognized other schools could share the same fate.
“We wouldn’t be surprised if there are other two-year campuses that may face this decision down the road,” said State Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) on Jan. 10.
With UW-Green Bay deciding to end in-person instruction at its campus in Marinette, officials believe Marinette County will be covered in the measures.
“That is my expectation,” said O’Connor.
“I kind of don’t see a reason why there can’t be UWGB put in there as kind of a contingency, if there’s no need to actually apply for the grant. It’ll just kind of be built in there in the event,” said State Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay).
Lawmakers hope to pass the bill before the end of February. If the bills are passed, the grants would be awarded by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
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