PHOENIX - A $620.7 million university system budget was adopted Friday by joint appropriations subcommittees.

Except for a $200,000 reduction in Northern Arizona University's budget, the numbers are identical to those presented by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee at the beginning of the session. It was adopted despite pleas last week from university presidents and supporters of higher education to increase funding.

The budget recommendations will now be sent to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The state budget should be adopted in March.

The budget represents a 1.9 percent, or $11.6 million increase over last year. It includes $7.1 million to fund the second half of a two-percent merit pay raise given to university employees Jan. 1. In the governor's proposed budget, no money was provided to fund the raises. It would be up to the universities to find funding from other sources.

The recommended budget would give the UA $229 million from the state general fund. The UA's total budget is $691 million.

The UA Health Sciences Center would also receive $48 million from the state.

Arizona State University Main, East and West campuses would receive $248 million, and Northern Arizona University would receive $89 million.

The Senate subcommittee adopted a footnote to the budget requiring universities and community colleges to develop a plan standardizing in-state transfer credits. If they miss the Sept. 30 deadline, any increase in funds given to the universities this year over last year would go back to the state.

The three universities must also agree on common prerequisites for common majors, such as business and accounting.

The House subcommittee did not adopt the motion. The House and Senate will hash out the motion before the final budget is adopted.