House and Senate negotiators are close to agreeing on a 24 million dollar plan to raise the salaries of state prison officers and pay for prison operations through June 30th. House Corrections and Public Safety Committee Chairman Representative Gus Blackwell says an agreement is close and he believes the prison's needs are taken care of.

The plan includes about three million dollars for pay raises for the guards and to recruit new correctional officers and is to be voted on in the state House tomorrow. Prison officials have asked for 29 million dollars to supplement their 409 million dollar budget and get them through the rest of the fiscal year.

Department of Corrections associate director J'me Overstreet says he'll reserve comment on the plan until it's formally announced.