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Dayton to push for higher taxes

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Dec 5, 2012 at 2:46 pm

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KNSI) Gov. Mark Dayton says it's "very likely" he will push again for higher state income taxes on the state's wealthiest residents next year.

Dayton was responding Wednesday to news of the state's projected $1.1 billion budget deficit. That's smaller than in recent years, but Democratic leaders say it will still require a mix of spending reductions and sources of new revenue to erase it. They also want to give relief to state property taxpayers and spend more state money on public education.

Dayton isn't releasing a full budget proposal until mid-January and won't get into specifics. But he says he still believes as he did when he ran for governor in 2010 that Minnesota's wealthiest 2 percent of residents can afford to pay more in taxes.