Dayton Ups Recommendations For Tax Relief, School Spending

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Gov. Mark Dayton has revised his budget plan to set aside more money for targeted tax relief, nursing homes, welfare grants, preschool programs and college aid.

The package he outlined Tuesday represent his priorities for parceling out money from Minnesota's enlarged projected surplus, which grew by about $900 million. But he acknowledged his proposal was probably the "high-water mark" in a budget debate yet to fully take off.

Dayton says he expects the Republican-led House and Democratic-controlled Senate will try to whittle down his proposal.

The Democratic governor is seeking $235 million to give every 4-year-old access to a tuition-free preschool program.

Dayton's new tax relief comes mostly in the form of a working family credit for low- and middle-income families. His administration says 287,000 more families would qualify.