MINEOLA, N.Y. — Lawmakers in a suburban New York county have voted to slash 128 jobs from the county payroll in a bid to close a budget gap.

The Nassau County Legislature voted 10-9 on Wednesday to cut the positions. County Executive Edward Mangano says the cuts will reduce county staffing to the lowest level since the 1950s and save about $10 million annually.

Nassau has one of the highest tax rates in the country. It was placed under a state fiscal watchdog after officials determined the county budget had a $176 million shortfall. Mangano and fellow Republicans refuse to raise taxes.

Democratic legislators and county employees decried the effect layoffs would have on county services.

The layoffs, affecting social services workers and others, go into effect after business closes on Thursday.