Va. to cut 565 jobs, shut Powhatan prison to close money gap

Virginia’s prison system is bearing the brunt of state spending cuts to close a revenue gap in this year’s budget, with layoffs of up to 506 employees in that field alone, and closure of a correctional center in Powhatan County, a work center in Augusta County, and a diversion center in Clarke County.

The layoffs in the Department of Corrections represent 90 percent of the 565 employees to be released throughout state executive branch agencies to help cut spending by $92.4 million this year under the strategy on which Gov. Terry McAuliffe and General Assembly budget leaders agreed in order to close a revenue shortfall projected at $2.4 billion in the two-year budget.

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