MADISON – Today, the State Building Commission met to consider the 2025-27 State of Wisconsin Capital Budget. Representative Billings, a member of the State Building Commission and Chair of the Higher Education Subcommittee, released the following statement in response:
“This afternoon, the State Building Commission met to consider dozens of important projects in the biennial Capital Budget. One of the items we considered was funding for the Prairie Springs Phase II Science Center at UW La Crosse. Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues on the commission voted to send the 2025-27 Capital Budget to the Joint Committee on Finance with no recommendations.”
“While this vote is a disappointing setback, the work is not done and I hope that members of the Joint Committee on Finance will listen to students, the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce, UWL community members, and local business leaders who have reached out to members of the State Building Commission to emphasize how important Prairie Springs Phase II is for the future of UWL and its students. This is the fourth budget where UWL has requested funding for the completion of the science center and it is past time for us to come together to approve this project.”
“I appreciate the tireless efforts of UWL Chancellor James Beeby, who has done a wonderful job of communicating just how crucial this project is for our community. Prairie Springs Phase II will help meet the needs of the growing UWL student body as they prepare to join the workforce. 80% of UWL graduates stay in Wisconsin 10 years after graduation and 87% of UWL College of Science and Health graduates work for employers in Wisconsin. I will continue to advocate for projects that invest in the future of our region.”
“The Joint Committee on Finance will host listening sessions on April 2 in Kaukauna, April 4 in West Allis, April 28 in Hayward, and April 29th in Wausau, and the committee can also be contacted via their website. I hope members of the committee will listen to my constituents about the importance of Prairie Springs Phase II.”
