LINCOLN - An avenue has opened that would nearly close Nebraska’s projected budget deficit, but it will require the state Legislature to approve a slate of revenue-generating bills and a collection of spending cuts and cash transfers.

The Appropriations Committee met for the third day in a row to revisit ways to balance the state’s two-year budget. Lawmakers have just seven legislative days left before they must send their state budget adjustments to Gov. Jim Pillen’s desk for final approval and possible line-item vetoes. The committee voted on new adjustments Thursday that would reduce the deficit by about $8 million. Combined with other adjustments the committee greenlit earlier this week, Patent said that would bring the projected deficit to roughly $40.7 million.

Speaker John Arch told senators Thursday to brace for a sprint to the line marking the end of the 60-day session, also warning senators the session was constrained by time and that they would not have time to debate all the designated priorities this year.

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