CORTLAND, N.Y. (WHCU) — Cortland County Sheriff Mark Helms says he’s delaying hiring a new undersheriff over a pay dispute. One county official has responded. 

Cortland County Administrator Rob Corpora tells WHCU the pay for both sheriff and undersheriff are comparable to other counties. Corpora also says the undersheriff can make more than the department’s Road Patrol captain in the current pay structure, which he adds was explained to the sheriff in a meeting in July.

Helms told WHCU last month he hasn’t heard much from anyone in the county, but Corpora says the sheriff didn’t mention the issue when they spoke at the Sheriff’s budget review a few weeks ago.

The position of undersheriff has been vacant since Budd Rigg’s retirement in July.