Regents to seek $1.93B budget for FY2015

ATLANTA (AP) -- The Georgia Board of Regents has signed off on a $1.93 billion budget request for fiscal year 2015, which represents a 2.6 percent increase over the year before.

The request was adopted Wednesday by the board and now heads to the governor's office for consideration.

The request doesn't include $235.2 million needed for facilities within the university system, which was also approved by the board.

Officials say the request includes a reduction in state funds of $20.2 million to account for a 2.7 decline in enrollment during the last school year. Officials say changes to a federal grant program and increased admissions requirements have factored into the decline.

The board is also seeking $3.2 million for more hospital residency slots. Other increases include health insurance, retirement programs and facility operations.