University of Hawaii students may see a smaller tuition increase than expected next year under a proposal being considered by the budget committee of the Board of Regents.

Instead of the 7.5 percent increase now planned over the next two years, students would see their tuition rise annually by only

2 percent in the latest plan to help cover the university’s huge deferred maintenance backlog.

But the proposal does include a big if: It requires the state Legislature to allocate enough funds to pick up rising utility costs and other operating expenses that were going to be paid for by the larger tuition increase.

“We think it’s a reasonable request,” said UH President David Lassner. “Sticking with (the 2 percent increase) would require a full buy-in from the state.”

Lassner cautioned that if state lawmakers don’t agree to cover all the utility costs, the university would need to fill the void partially or in whole, allowing the university to realize the revenue expected under the original tuition increase.

The board is expected to vote on the proposal in October as part of the university’s two-year budget plan.

In another budget development, UH administrators told the Board of Regents they want to spend $3 million to help cover deficits in intercollegiate athletics. That includes $1.3 million in travel subsidies that the university pays to schools to come to compete against Hawaii.