Perdue budget cuts hit home: Governor proposes closing Haywood Correctional Center

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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The Raleigh News & Observer has the story. Click on the link to read the detail about her plan, including her proposal to close the Haywood Correctional Center in Waynesville:

RALEIGH — Gov. Beverly Perdue presented a $21 billion budget proposal today that would whack more than 1,000 jobs from state government and slice $360 million from overall state spending.

Spending would be slashed across every single category of the state budget. The state Department of Correction would be hit particularly hard with a loss of 527 jobs and a budget reduced by $68 million. Universities will lose $167 million and 73 jobs.

Perdue is proposing to raise a tax on cigarettes by $1 a pack. Other tobacco products would see a tax increase. The increases, which would take effect in September, would raise $350 million in new revenue. A new 5 percent alcohol tax would generate $158 million.