The budget released by Gov. Mark Dayton’s administration on Tuesday proposes to spend $37.9 billion over the next two years. That figure represents a 6 percent increase over the $35.7 billion deal ultimately reached with a Republican-controlled Legislature following the 2011 state government shutdown.

On New Year’s Eve day, a group of experts on mental health issues gathered to discuss goals for the looming legislative session. The meeting was spurred in part by urging from DFL legislators to draw up ideas for tackling the issue in the wake of the mass shooting in Newtown, Conn.