ST. PAUL — Pieces of Minnesota’s $40-billion budget are starting to move.

The work starts first in the Senate Monday with bills that fund state agencies and Minnesota’s public universities and colleges. Money to pay off a new office building for senators and funding to freeze tuition are the main sticking points.

It’s just the starting point of negotiations for Senate Democrats, who have vastly different budget plans from the Republicans who control the House.

House Republicans are expected to take up their own budget bills Tuesday including a transportation plan that shifts existing taxes and taps into the state’s budget surplus in order to fund road and bridge repairs.

House Speaker Kurt Daudt says he’s confident they can iron out a budget deal with the Senate and Gov. Mark Dayton.