As state senators gather at the Capitol for the special session, there are many thoughts on how they'll solve the unexpected budget shortfall, including some controversy on one hot topic - education.

Because Governor Dave Heineman says he doesn't want to raise taxes, his across-the-board cuts are affecting most agencies, including public schools. And Common Cause, a public advocacy group, says they're worried those who will suffer are the most are small town schools that already have very little money.

Senator Bill Avery of Lincoln is on the Education Committee. He says he and Committee Chair Senator Greg Adams will come up with the roughly $47 million the Governor suggests dropping from the public school budget.

"How we get to the $47 million will be adjustments in the state aid formula. That's the fairest way to do it. If you say to the schools you're going to have to cut across the board, five percent across the board means a lot more to a small school district, say Dundee, than it does to LPS here in Lincoln," said Avery.

But Jack Gould of Common Cause says changing the state aid formula is not enough to protect smaller, less wealthy school districts.

"We're just shifting the burden. For most of these school districts, it's going to take their state funds away, and they're going to have to fall back on local property taxes. And that's not going to be a tax that's shared equally, it's a tax that will hurt some communities greater than others," Gould said.

Instead, Gould says the university's budget should be slashed.

"I think the university is an institution that all Nebraskans respect and appreciate. But it also gets the largest chunk of education dollars. And it also has a billion dollar foundation, which could supplement many of the areas where the cuts could take place," said Gould.

But where the cuts will come from is the big argument, and will there be enough of them to satisfy the Governor's wish to keep taxes right where they are.

"I think we need to emphasize that there is nothing in the Governor's proposal to raise taxes, I support that," said Avery.

"Ultimately, the only really long-term solution is falling back on raising taxes. And I know that's not what the public wants to hear, but if we're going to weather this storm, it'd probably be best to raise taxes on the people who can most afford to pay," Gould said.

The special session begins Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m., and 10/11 News will have complete coverage on-air and on 1011Now.com

To hear more from Senator Bill Avery and Jack Gould, just click on the extended interview video links above.

To learn more about the Nebraska Legislature, just click on the link below.