ST. PAUL (AP) — Minnesota’s Republican-controlled Legislature risked its first veto on Thursday, sending Gov. Mark Dayton $900 million worth of budget cuts that he criticized as a piecemeal approach to a $6.2 billion deficit.

The Senate approved the package on a party-line 37-28 vote, a day after it cleared the House on a 68-61 vote.

Dayton stepped to the brink of saying he would veto the bill, saying the cuts to local governments, public colleges, social services and state agencies were “all on paper” actions that mostly wouldn’t take effect until July. He said the local aid reductions would drive up property taxes.

Dayton has said he would like to air all the tradeoffs involved in a deficit fix at once.

“Before you climb the mountain, in legislative vernacular, you listen to the people,” the Democratic governor said during a Minnesota Public Radio call-in show Thursday. “There’s a reason this is a five-month legislative session in a major budget-setting year.”

Majority Republicans said they aim to start downsizing the deficit immediately.

“What we’re trying to do today is take the first cut at our $6.2 billion deficit. For the executive branch, I hope you see this as a reality check. $6.2 billion will not be easy to cut,” said Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassan.

The package would reduce state allowances for cities and counties, public colleges and social service programs, while requiring the executive branch to eliminate $100 million in state spending before July.

Democrats accused Republicans of raising property taxes in a roundabout fashion by cutting aid to cities and counties. They also predicted higher tuition and difficulties for needy groups such as abused children.

“It appears to me that your motto of no tax increases is no longer on the table,” Sen. Rod Skoe, DFL-Clearbook.