1-30-15 uw system president orders cost saving measures ahead of budget cuts

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross has ordered immediate cost-saving moves after Gov. Scott Walker announced he wants to slash the system’s funding.  The Republican governor is grappling with a $2 billion deficit in the next state budget. He said the spending plan he’ll present next week will cut $300 million from the system but hand it more independence.  Cross sent a memo Wednesday to all employees involved in system administration ordering immediate moratoriums on hiring non-essential state-funded positions, out-of-state travel, raises and promotions.  He said on Thursday he doesn’t see how the campuses can absorb the cut without layoffs. Cross also said he’s frustrated with Walker’s comments that UW faculty should do more work, saying no one realizes the time professors put in.