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PHOENIX (AP) - Universities and state agencies in Arizona are seeking at least $500 million in new spending now that the state's economy is recovering.

The Arizona Capitol Times reports (http://bit.ly/Ucbps6) that universities want a $203 million budget increase while the Department of Economic Security, the state's Medicaid program and other agencies are asking for hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding.

The universities are seeking money for fire code upgrades, acquiring research equipment and an exchange program with schools in western part of the United States.

The Department of Economic Security seeks to hire hundreds of Child Protective Services investigators and caseworkers.

Gov. Jan Brewer and her staff are in the middle of drafting her budget recommendation to the Legislature.

She is expected to announce her proposal early next year.