Parts of this plan make sense, and other parts don't. For instance, if all of these reforms are enacted, why form an independent budget commission?

Though lawmakers emerged from a series of closed-door briefings with a broad range of reactions, most said they would give Mr. Ravitch's idea serious consideration as they deliberated over how to close a $9 billion gap in the budget for the state's fiscal year, which begins on April 1. The deficit is expected to grow by billions more in the following fiscal year, with little prospect that revenues will rebound quickly enough to avoid painful cuts.

Some lawmakers cited concerns over provisions that would allow the state to borrow as much as $2 billion a year in short-term loans to ease the transition to smaller budgets. Others said they were concerned that the proposed review board would trample on the constitutional prerogatives of the Legislature.

But underlying those worries was a sense of resignation that some version of Mr. Ravitch's plan would have to accompany the passage of the budget for the coming fiscal year, which must be approved by March 31.