Lawmakers are making progress on a North Carolina state government budget deal.

House and Senate Democrats tentatively agreed Friday morning to broad spending and taxing parameters through mid-2011. The plan is to spend $18.9 billion in state funds this year while raising $990 million in new taxes. House and Senate Finance chairs spent Friday morning working on the tax plan, which still has to be worked out.

Representative Mickey Michaux said Friday's agreement opens the door for subcommittees to divide up the money.

The state is still operating on a temporary spending measure that expires July 15 because the final plan isn't finished. The Legislature would have to extend that stopgap measure if no deal is reached before then.

"Schools are going to be opening in the next six weeks and they need to know how many teachers they can hire and what their limits are," Garrou said.

"They got what they wanted we got what we wanted, now the question, is how that will be allocated," Michaux said.

Senator Linda Garrou said the spending plan does not leave money for the rainy day fund.

"It's hard making these decisions, and these are decisions we don't make lightly," Garrou said.

Garrou was hopeful though that Friday's progress will help the budget process move along more quickly.