AUGUSTA — Legislative leaders announced today a proposal to create a nine-member citizen commission that would be charged with coming up with $75 million in savings by next year.

If a bill creating the commission is approved by the full Legislature, the commission would have until Jan. 1, 2009, to make its recommendations. The recommendations would then go for an up-or-down vote before the full Legislature.

Members of the Legislature’s Prosperity Committee endorsed the idea late Wednesday after months of work on proposals to improve the state’s long-term financial picture.

Other recommendations from the committee will go to different legislative committees for additional work.

Lawmakers said the need to find $75 million in government cuts is separate from the current need to fill a $95 million hole in the state budget.