By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON -- St. Lawrence County legislators have approved paying the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency $600,000 in the next three years on a split vote Monday.

Legislators agreed to extend a contract with the IDA through 2019.

The IDA will now receive $200,000 from the county for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019. Last year during budget negotiations legislators cut funding to the agency from $400,000 to $200,000.

At the time the county also decided to fund the IDA on a year-to-year basis.

On Monday legislators supported a resolution that will ensure the IDA receives funding for the next three years.

“Given the fiscal stresses of the county, the funding for the IDA has been continually reduced over the last few years,” the resolution says. “Realizing the value of the work the IDA does and believing it is vital to encourage and support economic development in St. Lawrence County, amending and extending the current contract will benefit the county.”

Voting in favor of the measure were County Chairman John Burke and legislators Lisa Bell, Donald Hooper, Travis Dann, Larry Denesha, Rick Perkins, Tony Arquiett and Gregory Paquin.

Legislators Joseph Lightfoot, David Forsythe, Kevin Acres, Joel LaPierre, Chad Colbert and Joe Timmerman opposed the plan.

The payments will be issued in quarterly installments.