Lawmakers can expect details of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s proposed budget in the next few weeks, about a month earlier than previously expected, the state’s acting budget director told a Senate committee considering his nomination yesterday.

Kalbert Young said departments have submitted requests to the Budget and Finance Department and that he hopes to present a preliminary plan to legislators by the end of next week, with the target of a full budget submittal by month’s end.

Department requests account for about $250 million in new spending, while the administration had only allotted for $50 million as a placeholder for Abercrombie’s initiatives in the budget sent to lawmakers in December, Young said.

"So there will have to be some prioritization in terms of what can actually be submitted if we’re going to hold it to $50 million," Young told the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Sen. David Ige, the committee chairman, delayed a decision on the nominations of Young and Tax Director Fred Pablo, saying he wanted to give them more time to meet first with all members of the Senate.

Ige (D, Aiea-Pearl City) said he expects to decide by next week on both nominations.

Two other administration appointees received the unanimous backing of Senate committees.

Glenn Okimoto’s nomination as transportation director was advanced by the Transportation and International Affairs Committee, and Alapaki Nahale-a’s nomination to head the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands was supported by the Hawaiian Affairs Committee.

The nominations now go to the full Senate for a final vote.