University of Wisconsin leaders have asked Gov. Scott Walker not to spin off the flagship UW-Madison campus from the rest of the system, saying the potential move would create unnecessary competition that would hurt all the Wisconsin colleges.

Three UW leaders wrote to Walker on Tuesday saying it had "come to our attention" that Walker would propose removing the Madison university from the larger system as part of his budget proposal next week.

"We want to express strong concerns about this significant restructuring, especially without broad consultation and careful deliberation," said the letter signed by Board of Regents President Charles Pruitt and Vice President Mike Spector and UW System President Kevin Reilly, a copy of which was obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.

Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie told AP on Wednesday he couldn't confirm anything about the budget.

"Lots of the details of the UW System including funding and flexibility will be released in the governor's budget, which will be introduced on Tuesday," he said.

Spinning off UW-Madison likely would mean it would be run by a separate board whose members could be handpicked by Walker, which could give the Republican governor more control over how the university is run.