The biennium budget for 2015-2016, recently proposed by Gov. Matt Mead, focuses on conservative spending and implementing construction projects coupled with salary raises for state employees and UW faculty. The budget will be considered by legislators before being approved for implementation.
A $22.7 million surplus in revenue from the previous fiscal year is a strong motivator for the governor’s conservative budget outline.
“Wyoming has received national accolades that recognize our fiscally conservative nature and actions – these accolades include the highest credit rating from Standard & Poors,” said Renny MacKay, Mead’s Communication Director. “All of these take into account the balance Wyoming strikes between investing in its infrastructure and saving. Governor Mead’s budget continues this approach and includes important investments in Wyoming and at UW, all while keeping spending nearly flat from his budget two years ago. Over the first decade of this century the state’s budget more than doubled. That was not sustainable.”
Mead has also allocated roughly $50 million in funds for salary raises which will end the four year pay freeze at the University of Wyoming. Since the beginning of the pay freeze, many high quality professors have left the university after being offered higher paying jobs at other institutions.
“Governor Mead’s proposal is for 2.5 percent each year, so a total of more than 5 percent over the biennium. This is in line with what UW originally requested,” Mackay said. “That proposal combined with the plan to have the state pay for the increased contribution to the retirement system, rather than having employees pick up that amount, is a good investment in UW and its employees.”
While the budget provides investments for both infrastructure and university faculty, Mead has indicated his opposition to immediate plans for Medicaid expansion bills.
There are an estimated 17,600 uninsured citizens of Wyoming who would receive healthcare benefits with the adoption of a Medicaid expansion plan, but Mead has expressed skepticism in the federal government to provide the required funding.
“As he said in his State of the State address Monday, he continues to believe the Affordable Care Act is being badly implemented,” MacKay said. “It has created uncertainties. Some deadlines have been delayed, some exemptions have been granted and the exchange rollout has been flawed. And he cannot support optional expansion at this time.”
Despite these uncertainties Mead has directed the Wyoming Department of Health to evaluate optional Medicaid expansion costs and benefits so that the Legislation can be provided with a clear-cut assessment of the bills, MacKay said.