Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper's budget proposal includes more funding for education, more Medicaid spending, and pay increases for state employees for the first time in four years.
    
The budget proposal released Thursday represents the first time since the Great Recession where the state hasn't faced major cuts.
    
The state general fund that lawmakers have control over will grow to $8.1 billion next year, up from about $7.6 billion last year. The governor's economists have credited Colorado's improving economy to tax receipts from one-time stock sales.
    
Hickenlooper is proposing $201.6 million more for schools, to bring the K-12 budget to $3 billion. It's the biggest portion of general fund spending, followed by health and human services.
    
Lawmakers will work on the budget and make any changes next year.