The South Dakota Legislature passed a $4.3 billion budget that gives extra state funding increases to education, state employees and health care providers despite having less money available to spend than previously expected.

The House voted 55-9 to approve the budget put together earlier in the day by the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee. The Senate followed with a 30-2 vote to pass the budget as the main run of this year’s legislative session came to an end.

Republicans praised modest spending hikes in essential areas despite less revenue than expected. Senate Majority Leader Tim Rave said the budget makes incremental improvements even if it doesn’t solve all problems.

Democrats said they would’ve liked to see more increases in education funding and a greater emphasis on higher education affordability.

The Legislature also passed a proposal to hike road and bridge funding, a plan that would raise the state’s fuel taxes by 6 cents per gallon over the next three years.

The House voted 55-11 to approve the bill immediately after it passed the Senate Friday afternoon. The scope of the fuel tax hike had been the main sticking point in negotiations but lawmakers from both chambers finalized a deal Friday morning.

The bill raises tens of millions of dollars in road and bridge funding through increases in fuel taxes, fees and other assessments.

Transportation funding has arguably been the most hotly debated issue lawmakers considered during this session.