Dayton willing to spend $100 million more of Minnesota's budget surplus

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton says he's willing to spend an additional $100 million of the projected $1.2 billion budget surplus this session.

The offer is on top of his earlier $162 million supplemental spending proposal.

Dayton on Thursday said he made the offer to House and Senate leaders "in the spirit of accommodation," as they work to negotiate a budget compromise.

"This is all spending that I believe is essential for the security and the wellbeing of the people of Minnesota," he said. Legislative leaders "have some of their own ideas, too. That's why we need some give and take here."

The House passed a bill that spends about $323 million from the budget surplus, while the Senate version was $210 million. A conference committee began working this week to resolve the differences between the two finance measures.