County Implements Hiring Freeze Through June Due to “Significant Financial Pressures”

In an effort to reduce costs to a county already facing “significant financial pressures” due to what Cortland County says are unfunded state mandates, rising operational costs, and other fiscal constraints, the county has implemented a hiring freeze through June 30th.

The hiring freeze has only three exceptions though. Permission for hiring would be the hiring for a new director of the Office For Aging, any seasonal workers, and up to 4 Correctional Officers; the Sheriff’s Office has been facing staffing shortages for an extended period.

The freeze affects all full-time, part-time, and temporary staff positions within the Cortland County government; vacant or anticipated. This also includes union, non-union, and management categories.

Prior to a vote, Legislative Chairman Kevin Fitch requested an amendment to the resolution to add the following “Resolved that exceptions to this resolution may be granted with the approval of the Chair of the Legislature and the chair of the applicable standing committee the the county administrator is hereby authorized to approve such position in accordance with its approval and be it resolved that the hiring pause shall remain in effect until June 30th.”

After a brief discussion, the proposed amendment by Chairman Fitch was approved by the Legislature. Legislator Harbin also proposed another amendment to allow the Department of Social Services to be allowed to hire up to 4 positions; this amendment by Harbin ultimately failed due to the Department of Social Services being allowed to hire under the conditions of the amendment by Chairman Fitch.

Legislator Reed Cleland brought up a question on what the expected savings would be during the hire freeze period. County Administrator Rob Corpora was unable to provide a figure as he was not sure what the savings would bring for the county.

During Tuesday’s Homer Board of Trustees meeting, Legislator Cleland mentioned the truly dire financial situation the county is in, stating the county is facing around a $6 million dollar deficit for next year.

After a debate on whether the 60-day hiring freeze would be effective or not, Chairman Fitch called for a vote on authorizing the temporary hiring freeze. The final vote was in favor of the resolution for the hiring freeze 15-2 with Legislators Jones and Cleland voting against the hiring freeze.