Regents meet to consider $1.4B university budget

BILLINGS (AP) — ?The Montana Board of Regents is meeting in Billings to pass the university system's annual budget.

The board is meeting Wednesday and Thursday at Montana State University Billings to consider the $1.4 billion budget proposal.

The proposal includes a 3 percent increase to $457 million in the unrestricted operating portion of the budget.

The Billings Gazette reports that increase comes from a tuition hike to make up for a 3 percent decrease in state funds.

Regents heard that overall enrollment in state schools has risen nearly 4 percent since 2008. Technology colleges' enrollment grew more than 8 percent.

The board is required by law to pass a budget each September.