ST. PAUL — Gov. Mark Dayton is asking the Legislature for $10 million to replace Minnesota’s two state-owned airplanes.

Dayton says the Beechcraft King Air prop planes are “reaching the end of their safe operations.” One plane is from 1981 and the other from 1993.

Dayton’s request to replace the planes comes as Republicans are using their new House majority to scrutinize spending by the DFL governor for items outside the core services that state government delivers.

Republican Representative Sarah Anderson of Plymouth has been a leading critic of pay hikes Dayton granted to his commissioners. But Anderson tells the Star Tribune she is willing to hear arguments for why new planes are needed.

MnDOT officials say the two planes are growing more costly to maintain as they age.