The Senate approved a midyear budget Thursday that calls for Georgia to spend $18.5 billion during the current fiscal year -- nearly $207 million more than was originally planned.

The vote on House Bill 741 was 51-1, with Sen. Ed Harbison, D-Columbus, casting the only opposing vote.

Slight differences exist between the Senate and House versions of the amended 2012 fiscal year budget, including funding for several k-12 education programs. Members from both chambers will hammer out an agreement.

Both the House and Senate versions included using $300 million in gas tax money toward a toll road project along I-75 and I-575 in Cobb and Cherokee counties.

The 2012 fiscal year began July 1 and will end June 30.

Appropriations subcommittees in the House and Senate are reviewing Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed 2013 fiscal year budget. That budget goes into effect July 1 and ends June 30, 2013.

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