BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

CANTON — Family medical leave, sick time and a worker’s compensation claim are among the factors driving up expenditures in the St. Lawrence County jail budget, but the sheriff says changes are being made to address the problem.

Overtime costs at the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility remain high during the third quarter as a Worker’s Comp claim and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) absences impact staffing numbers. 

Sheriff Rick Engle said his department has implemented a number of changes to cut overtime costs after first quarter costs hit $131,793, bringing the figure down below $100,000 for both the second and likely third quarter. 

Engle said during the Aug. 10 Operations Committee meeting he sat down with legislators to review the rising costs and solutions previously.

“As we get closer to the end of the third quarter I’d like to sit down and review things again, maybe have a core in depth conversation about some of the steps we have taken to improve our budget for overtime,” Engle said.

Engle said everyone knew the overtime figures were an issue, leading he and his office to implement broad changes to curb costs.

The changes brought that figure down to $94,065, however more work needs to be done.

“We seem to be holding…like right now, third quarter, we’re at $48,983. We’re getting up there again. I’ve gotta be honest with you, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we look at this thing every payroll…it’s sick time and FMLA. There’s not much I can do about that,” he said.

Engle said a number of staff have been rotating in and out on FMLA, with some staff undergoing surgeries and other procedures that take them out of work for extended periods of time.

Engle said a number of staff are also out on a Worker’s Comp claim as well. He did not elaborate on the nature of the claim, nor did legislators ask for further details. 

Engle said part-time staff have filled the void with success, helping curb costs. 

Other changes, like changing a visitation day from Friday to Wednesday beginning Sept. 1 will also help cut overtime costs as staffing figures fluctuate.

“That will help free up some part-time help there,” he said.

Engle said the situation is “being monitored constantly” as the figures are not where he and county officials want them to be.

“They’re not where I want them to be. I’m a taxpayer too,” he said.

Engle commented he was open to any suggestions that may help the situation as well.

“If anybody has any ideas my ears are always open. Give me a call,” Engle said. 

Legislators were forced to approve a $300,000 budget modification in June to account for overtime expenses incurred up to that point, which prompted the new plan Engle and staff implemented.

County officials said in June that overtime costs have exceeded the 2026 budget as a result of staffing coverage needs and "operational demands." 

Approximately 43% of overtime costs have been attributed to sick leave and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) usage, they continued. 

In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Sheriff's Office saw 3,868.5 hours of overtime at the correctional facility. 

The first quarter of 2026 followed that trend with 3564 hours of overtime. 

But when changes were made, that figure dropped by nearly half to 1946.5 hours, Engle said in June.

Though other considerations are in the works and the plan continues to evolve, Engle said he "still had work to do."

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