Nebraska state senators pushed budget cuts through a second step Wednesday morning, moving closer to a final vote on a balanced budget on Friday.

Then, it will be decision time for Gov. Dave Heineman on whether to accept the Legislature's changes to his proposed cuts and cash transfers, or to use his veto power on the items that concern him.

Senators will meet Thursday afternoon to elect a chair for the Urban Affairs Committee, formerly held by Omaha Sen. Mike Friend, who resigned after the regular session this year.

On Friday, they will convene at 8 a.m. for final reading of the budget bills. If they get the bills to Heineman early, the Legislature could address any vetoes Friday afternoon, said Speaker Mike Flood. If not, senators could be required to meet Friday evening.

A few senators have had concerns of their own about specific cuts, but have said they are willing to address those concerns in the session that begins in January.

Sen. Kate Sullivan of Cedar Rapids said she wanted to address the issue of early childhood education cuts in the next session. Those would include reductions of $180,771 next year, about 5 percent of early childhood grant funds, for small schools that want to start preschools.

"Too many children are at risk," she said. "We need to go to where the problems exist and curb them early."

Since 2001, about 74 districts have received the grants, said Melody Hobson, co-administrator of the state Department of Education's office of early childhood education. The $180,771 would mean fewer grants for about three-and-a-half preschool classrooms -- 16 to 20 kids in each room.

While it may not sound like much, Hobson said, "It's a big deal if it's your community and you think it will help you get started down that road."

Four or five districts have already contacted the department asking about grants for next year, she said.

Lincoln Sen. Colby Coash is also thinking about next year, he said, and addressing health care provider rates, especially for services for older Nebraskans.

Brendon Polt of the Nebraska Health Care Association, which represents more than 400 nursing homes and assisted living facilities, told the Appropriations Committee during this special session that holding rates flat next year as the governor proposed would "explode the level of underfunding" of nursing homes from about $19 a patient per day to nearly $27.

That would force some nursing homes to close, he said.

The Appropriations Committee allowed a small portion of the previously approved rate increases for next year to stand.

The committee has also asked for reports from agencies on how each will be affected by across-the-board cuts to be put in place in this budget. Depending on what they learn, senators have said, there may be budget adjustments that will have to be considered.

But Appropriations Chairman Lavon Heidemann said there could be very little wiggle room in the second year of the budget, possibly only a half-million dollars.

So no new initiatives?

"There's nothing wrong with initiatives as long as they don't cost money," Heidemann said.

Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com.