University of Wisconsin–Madison

Crist memo clarifies budget impact on employee benefits

In a memo to UW System chancellors, provosts, chief business officers and human resources directors, Senior Vice President for human Resources and Workforce Diversity Al Crist writes that Governor Walker’s proposed budget contains no changes for system employees.

“Many employees have expressed concern about the future of employee benefits and may be making important retirement decisions based on uncertainty about whether they might lose a very valuable benefit if they do not retire,” Crist writes. “I repeat, there is no language in the biennial budget bill currently before the Legislature that would change benefits currently available to UW System employees. This includes the proposed UW System Authority model.”

(Read the full memo here.)

Employee benefits are addressed in the state compensation plan, not the governor’s budget proposal. The compensation plan for the coming biennium has not yet been released. It is typically not released until late spring or early summer, before the state budget is approved.