About 60 Pulaski Correctional Center employees will lose their jobs when the prison is closed next year as a result of state budget cuts announced Thursday.

Under Gov. Tim Kaine's budget reduction plan, $348 million will be cut from state spending and $400 million will be withdrawn from the state's "rainy day" reserve fund to help offset a shortfall in Virginia's two-year budget.

The governor's spending cuts would eliminate about 1,400 positions throughout state government, with nearly 570 eliminated through layoffs.

The closing of the Pulaski Correctional Center, which opened in 1955 on 52 acres off U.S. 11 near Dublin, will result in 62 layoffs.

Virginia Department of Corrections spokesman Larry Traylor said the department is trying to carry out the governor's cost-cutting plan as efficiently as possible.

"We're working on the logistics and putting a plan into place regarding all of these reduction strategies," Traylor said.

He said the department hopes to be able to offer positions at other facilities to those laid off.

"We're looking at doing what we can to keep employees," Traylor said.

Traylor said plans for severance pay aren't known at this time, but the human resources department is looking into options.

Human Resources Deputy Director Paul Broughton declined to comment Thursday afternoon, referring questions back to Traylor.

The average daily inmate population at the correctional center, which also offers a substance abuse treatment center, as of June was 422. Any inmates held at the facility will be relocated into the rest of the state's prison system, Traylor said.

Warden Clarence Hollar also declined to comment Thursday afternoon, referring questions to Traylor.

The goal is to have all the department's layoffs, reassignments, facility closings and inmate relocations finalized by Jan. 25, Traylor said.