By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON -- With a shortfall in sales tax projections and rising healthcare costs St. Lawrence County legislators agreed to delay filling vacant positions for a minimum of 60 days.

“St. Lawrence County is working to achieve financial stability with the decrease in sales tax revenue and the increase in costs associated with health insurance, which have the potential to have negative impacts on the 2015 Budget,” the resolution says. “In an effort to maximize vacancy savings, a 60 day delay in filling vacancies would provide significant savings to the county.”

The resolution itself also reiterates support for a 2008 bill that implemented a 30-60-day hiring delay.

Legislators say that expanding on that bill and moving the minimum to 60 days will provide significant cost savings for the county and could reduce the need for cuts.

“Although not immediately filling positions when vacant is difficult on departments, the reality of the upcoming budget may result in cuts and this may help ease some of the burden of making those difficult choices,” the resolution says.