CHENANGO COUNTY – Municipalities throughout New York State are in for a pleasant surprise in the 2008-09 state budget.

While many were preparing for a $9 million decrease in Consolidated Highway Improvement Program’s (CHIPs) funding in the coming year, Senator Thomas Libous and Senator Jim Seward announced a $51 million increase in CHIPs funding from 2007-08.

CHIPs funding is used to maintain roadways and bridges in municipalities without increasing the property tax burden. “If we didn’t provide this funding for our local roads and bridges, towns and villages would be forced to raise property taxes as a result,” said Libous in a press release. “This is a win-win investment for taxpayers. It makes our roads and bridges safer and it keeps our property taxes down.”

Chenango County will see a funding increase of approximately 14 percent, while individual towns, villages and the City of Norwich will see an increase of between 20 and 23 percent.