NORWICH – County lawmakers find themselves pressed for time to delve out $750,000 in state funds intended to help flood victims sell their properties at pre-flood prices.

The money, a part of the Greater Catskills Flood Remediation Program, was made known to county officials in July, but carried an Oct. 14 program deadline. Even though Chenango County emergency management officials applied for and received a month’s extension, the finance committee unanimously agreed that a consultant would be necessary to manage the program.

“It (the scope of the project) is mind-boggling,” said Chenango County Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Decker. “We can’t handle it.”

The finance committee passed a resolution to hire a Cortland consulting firm to do the job for $20,000.