RALEIGH, N.C.  – Lawmakers say they’re still working on details of a tax plan to raise about $1 billion for North Carolina state government this year.

House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman said Thursday that Senate and House Democrats have reached a tentative agreement that would be inserted into the final budget.

It would raise the sales tax by a penny and create an income tax surcharge.

Holliman and a Senate counterpart said the plan likely will make the highest wage earners pay a 3 percent income tax surcharge. Those who make less – perhaps single filers making as low as $60,000 – would face a 2 percent surcharge.

Gov. Beverly Perdue rejected a similar plan last week because the surcharge would have been paid by all income taxpayers.