Resize bounding without resizing interior components (just respositioning)

I constantly find answers here, but am unable to find this one - potentially because I'm phrasing it wrong when I search.

I want to resize the bounding box for a set of objects, but not resize the objects themselves, only resposition them.

Specifically, I have a grouped set of 32 separate circles that are .3" in diameter, each placed at a point of a 32 tipped star. They are roughly 3" apart.

I would like to resize the entire set so that they are 2" apart (or 4" apart, etc.) and yet keep the .3" diameter of each circle.

I can resize the group, but when resizing so that they are closer, the 32 circle diameters get proportionally smaller. Inversely, when resizing the group larger, the 32 circle diameters get larger.

Is this possible?

Thanks for any help.