NORWICH – Though tentative, the county’s Social Services budget – including programs and administration – could be nearly half a million dollars more next year.

The amount represents a 4.5 percent local share increase on departmental costs that total $10.8 million. Appropriations are estimated to be about $23 million next year minus expected revenues of about $12 million.

Chenango County DSS Commissioner Bette Osborne said she expected to hear in the coming months whether the federal government would be paying $115,000 to New York State directly or to Chenango County’s DSS for a contract it administers for the Broome, Chenango, Otsego and Delaware system.

“We are hoping. They are making decisions right and left at this point,” Osborne said. The department would still be over $400,000 more than last year. DSS contributed $700,000 to surplus in 2007.

Finance Committee Chairman Lawrence N. Wilcox said he was “fairly confident” that the half million dollar mark was “a worst case scenario.”

Revenues are down 6.2 percent due in part to a 23 percent cut in a federal program created by former Governor Pataki that provides assistance to needy families, called the “Flexible Fund for Family Services.” County Treasurer William E. Evans remarked that while the federal government takes away revenues, it continues mandating specific programs.