OREM — Education pays.

That's the justification for a $45 million increase in the $622 million base request for state tax funds that public higher education officials will take to the 2006 Legislature.

"Higher education is not an empty bucket that needs money poured into it — it's an investment," said state Higher Education Commissioner Richard Kendell in a meeting Thursday with the State Board of Regents.

An overall increase of 5 percent in salary and compensation for staff and faculty is the regents' top funding priority, which is not included in its current request for tax funds. Tuition increases are expected once again, with schools like Dixie State College predicting a 20 percent increase to fill in budgets where the state falls short.

Utility rate increases, financial aid and economic development initiatives are a few places where regents want to direct the extra $45 million. That request doesn't include another $11.9 million regents want in one-time and supplemental funding for areas like academic equipment and, again, utilities.

The question Kendell wants state lawmakers to answer is, "Is this an investment you want to make?"

The Utah System of Higher Education, he added, has done its part over the past 10 years by adding $1 billion worth of assets to the state without the aid of taxpayer funds.

One big push will be to get another $5 million — $1.8 million just for the University of Utah — for colleges and universities to spend on retaining key faculty and staff who might be tempted to leave for better-paying jobs elsewhere.

Kendell said that Utah State University used retention funds to satisfy 75 of its faculty members. "This money," he added, "was very, very well spent."

Money well spent should also include about $2.5 million for student aid, student leaders told regents. In particular, students said, regents need to earmark more money for need-based aid, which is typically much less than merit-based aid in Utah. Regents have a three-year goal to fix that disparity.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com