State Regents to seek billion dollar budget

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education decided today to ask the state Legislature for a $1-billion budget for next fiscal year.<br/><br/>This would be a $123-million increase

Thursday, January 12th 2006, 12:29 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education decided today to ask the state Legislature for a $1-billion budget for next fiscal year.

This would be a $123-million increase from the current budget for the higher education system.

Higher education Chancellor Paul Risser said the extra money is needed to boost the state's per-student funding level, which he said is now an average of about $1,200 less than what is spent in other states.

Regents also decided to ask for an additional $4.6-million to help sustain the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, which pays in-state college tuition for students who meet academic requirements and have family incomes of $50,000 or less. The regents will also ask that additional revenue sources be identified to support that program.