Associated Press - November 3, 2009 1:55 PM ET

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Despite plunging state revenues, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are requesting a $27.5 million increase over last year's budget and another $35.8 million to make up for this year's budget cuts.

The governing body of the state's 25 colleges and universities on Tuesday approved a budget request of nearly $1.1 billion for the 2011 fiscal year that begins July 1. The Oklahoma Legislature, which convenes in February, will write the budget for the next fiscal year.

The regents also want the state to appropriate $68.7 million in federal stimulus money, the same amount the Legislature approved for the current fiscal year.

More than a dozen university and college presidents attended Tuesday's meeting, where the nine-member board unanimously approved the request.

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