PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – As costs and tuition rises, the South Dakota Board of Regents has been looking at budget changes and streamlining.

Board President Kevin Schieffer says they have been consolidating some of their “backroom” functions.

Schieffer says the majority of higher education costs are not paid by taxes.

While some legislators have mentioned merging or closing a university, Schieffer says the return on those public dollars is impressive.

The Regents meet later this month at SDSU in Brookings, then will hold their strategic planning session in Pierre in August.