More than 2,000 filled or vacant positions in North Carolina state government would be eliminated in a draft budget plan for justice, public safety and correction departments.
     
The proposal considered in a budget subcommittee would make more than $320 million in spending cuts to meet targets ordered by House Democratic leaders. The cuts are double what the Senate agreed to in its budget proposal approved before revenues dwindled this spring.
     
The measure would close eight prisons – one more than what Gov. Beverly Perdue proposed – as well as eliminate 10 percent of the court clerk positions statewide.
     
No vote was taken on the plan.
     
House Democrats also must decide whether they should raise taxes to narrow cuts through their proposed budget before it goes to the full House for debate.