A big majority of Minnesota voters would support an increase in the cigarette tax to help fill a looming budget deficit, but most prefer the state's books be balanced through spending cuts rather than tax hikes, a new public opinion poll indicates.

A smaller majority of voters questioned in the poll also said they would support an increase in the gasoline tax to pay for more road construction, or for road construction and mass transit.

It is common in public opinion surveys for people to strongly favor taxes, such as a cigarette tax, that most won't have to pay, said Brad Coker, whose polling company conducted the survey for the Pioneer Press and Minnesota Public Radio.

"People never want to pay higher taxes, but if somebody else is paying, then that's fine," said Coker, managing director of Washington-based Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc.

In the poll, voters were asked about many of the tax-and-spending issues that legislators and the governor will face next year as they try to solve an expected shortfall in the 2003-05 budget. The state Finance Department predicts a deficit of about $1.6 billion if the cost of providing state services doesn't increase, and up to $2.7 billion if costs go up.

The major candidates for governor have offered few detailed budget proposals. But 27 percent of the people questioned in the poll ranked tax and budget matters as the most important issue they will consider in deciding whom to vote for in the governor's race.

Nineteen percent said education is the most important issue in the gubernatorial campaign. Twelve percent said the candidates' character and experience were their biggest concern.

Two major candidates for governor -- Roger Moe of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Tim Penny of the Independence Party -- have supported increasing the cigarette and gas taxes and have talked about fixing the expected deficit with combinations of spending cuts and tax increases. Republican Tim Pawlenty signed a written pledge to veto any tax increase.

Green Party candidate Ken Pentel has supported raising the income tax and imposing new taxes on water and energy use.

None of the four has spelled out specific plans for large spending cuts. In the poll, 54 percent of respondents said the budget should be balanced through spending cuts, 18 percent favor tax increases and 23 percent chose a combination of cuts and increases.

The poll did not ask voters what state spending they would cut. But 49 percent rated school funding as the most important area not to cut. Money for roads ranked a distant second, with only 11 percent of the respondents saying it was the most important spending to preserve.

Last winter, Gov. Jesse Ventura proposed tax increases on cigarettes and gasoline to help balance the budget. TheSenate approved a 60-cent-per-pack increase on cigarettes for the budget and passed a 6-cent-per-gallon gas tax increase, but it specified the money be spent only on roads, bridges and mass transit. The House rejected both.

In the poll, 62 percent of the people questioned said they would support raising the cigarette tax -- now 48 cents per pack -- by 60 cents. The state Revenue Department estimates that would produce $180 million to $200 million per year in new revenue.