School districts waiting for guidance regarding likely state budget cuts will have to wait a little longer.

The Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee decided Friday to wait to recommend possible education cuts until they know exactly how much chopping they'll have to do.

Lawmakers know there's a strong possibility they'll have to cut $75.9 million -- or 3 percent -- from education. That's the amount that was cut and then immediately replaced with money from elsewhere -- for one year only -- during the recent special session.

But nothing is for sure yet.

"We don't know exactly what our committee will be required to trim either in the coming year or the current year," said Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, committee co-chair. He said recommending cuts now would "cause a lot of mixed signals in education."

Senate budget chairman Lyle Hillyard, also a subcommittee member, said he doubts state leaders will be able to fill that $75.9 million hole again in the upcoming session. The legislative fiscal analyst's office has told education leaders to prepare for as much as an additional 5 to 10 percent cut on top of the 3 percent, said Todd Hauber, state associate superintendent.

"We have to make some very difficult decisions," Hillyard said.

Lawmakers agreed, however, to wait until they have more information to make recommendations. The subcommittee won't likely meet again until shortly before the general legislative session begins in late January.

Steven Peterson, with the Utah School Boards Association, said he understands the need to wait for more information. But he said the earlier school districts know where money might be lost, the better they can prepare.

Ben Horsley, Granite School District spokesman, said the district was hoping for more direction at this point.

He said Granite officials are having preliminary discussions about where the district could make possible cuts. Rob Smith, Alpine School District business administrator, said the district is also looking for ways to be more efficient.

Jordan School District Superintendent Barry Newbold said his district is taking a close look at positions as they become vacant and not initiating any new programs or projects at this point that would cost money on an ongoing basis.

But he's glad lawmakers are waiting to make recommendations until they know more about the state's financial situation.

"I would like to see the total picture rather than see them come out piecemeal, so I can look within my own organization and see where it is I'd like to cut," Newbold said.

Stephenson also indicated Friday that he might be open to holding back $20 million that was to go toward district performance pay programs this school year, depending on what the governor wants. It's a move the State Board of Education has recommended.

State Deputy Superintendent Larry Shumway said the state has not yet distributed the money and could potentially hold it back. Lisa Roskelley, spokeswoman for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., said it's one of many options Huntsman and education leaders are considering.

"We're looking at everything, but we haven't selected specific pots of money to tap into yet," Roskelley said.