UW System Wants to Start Classes Sooner and Borrow Money for the Next School Year
Friday, June 5th, 2020 -- 9:34 AM
(AP) -The University of Wisconsin System wants the Legislature to allow it to begin classes sooner than Sept. 1 and borrow money, moves that UW President Ray Cross said Wednesday would help it deal with “unprecedented financial and planning challenges” due to the coronavirus pandemic.Cross made the request for a special legislative session in a letter sent to Gov. Tony Evers, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald. Evers spokeswoman Britt Cudaback encouraged the Legislature to get back to work. Fitzgerald said in a statement that the issues raised by Cross were complicated and he wanted to discuss them with senators. Vos spokeswoman Kit Beyer said Vos would discuss the request with Republicans who control the Assembly.
The Legislature has adjourned its regular session for the year. Lawmakers did return in April to pass a bill in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and Evers said then that more work was to be done. The Legislature is widely expected to have to meet sometime this year to make budget cuts to deal with severe drop offs in state tax revenues due to the pandemic.
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