ST. PAUL — Gov. Mark Dayton said 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 Democrats say erasing it will require spending reductions and new state revenue.

New DFL legislative leaders are reluctant to talk tax hikes, but say 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 wouldn’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.