If the State provides $3.5 million in supplemental funding for University of Hawaii athletics it "would be a tremendous step toward allowing us to continue to be competitive," Jeff Portnoy told fellow members of the Board of Regents on Thursday.

Joint committees of the Board on Thursday approved sending to the full Board a recommendation for $3.5 million in supplemental funds — $3 million for Manoa and $560,000 for UH-Hilo — for submission to the State Department of Budget and Finance for consideration in Gov. David Ige’s budget.

It is part of an overall approximately $11.2 million "ask" for the UH system and comes after last year’s request for $3 million for athletics was turned down.

Now, Portnoy said $3 million for Manoa is "a bare minimum" needed to help the 21-team department remain competitive in the Mountain West and Big West conferences. "I think we ought to get strongly behind this and urge the Legislature to accept the fact that we have a statewide sports program … (and), whether it is in Honolulu or Hilo, we need to try to be competitive with our peers in the conferences we play in and that we need assistance to do that," Portnoy said.

Athletics had initially sought $5 million, officials said.

Manoa athletic director David Matlin said "We’d be very appreciative of the $3 million … or any amount."

Portnoy, who heads the Regents’ Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics, said, "Again, I think ($3 million) is the bare minimum. If it had been my request, it would have been double. But I think the athletic department and the administration understand the political realities."

Manoa is expected to close its books on the 2015 fiscal year with a $4.2 million-$4.4 million deficit and is seeking ways to help fund Cost of Attendance stipends for athletes and other issues, including travel, meals and recruiting for its $33 million program.

Hilo, which competes on the Division II level, is seeking the funds for travel costs and student-athlete academic programs.