Regents request additional $765 million for higher education

The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - After absorbing severe budget cuts over the last two years, the state's public colleges and universities are asking for $765 million more the next time around, money that would be used to improve academics, access and aid.

The Ohio Board of Regents yesterday recommended the state spend $2.7 billion in the fiscal year beginning July 1 and nearly $3 billion the following year, 10 percent increases in each year. The state is spending $2.5 billion on higher education this year.

''This is extremely optimistic, but it's not extravagant by virtue of a need,'' said Rich Petrick, the regent's vice chancellor for finance. ''We lost a lot of basic funding during the last two years and this would restore that.''

Higher education sustained a $241 million cut this year and last.

Under the proposal, the state's share of the cost of instruction would increase 11 percent in each of the two years, a total of $536 million. That would take some of the pressure off universities to charge students more in tuition to cover the costs, Petrick said after the board met at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland.