NORWICH – Chenango County budgeting officials say they are working diligently to hold the line on next year’s taxes in light of the nation’s economic downturn.

“People are walking up to me on the street and asking me questions (about the tax rate for 2009) who have never asked me those questions before,” Treasurer William E. Evans said. “It’s a tenuous time.”

Based on recommendations made by department directors and their standing committees, preliminary calculations point to a 2 percent increase on the levy. Evans said he was encouraging directors to pare down their proposals even further.

“We would like the levy to hold to a zero increase. ... I would recommend that it’s a pressing need that we get this levy down,” Evans said.

The 2008 real property tax levy of $22.7 million represented a 0.75 percent hike.

A report from the Department of Social Services last week showed a decrease in previous estimates, in part due to an influx of an additional $100,000 in Medicaid reimbursements. Previous estimates of the nearly $23.5 million budget would have meant a 7 percent increase. DSS Commissioner Bette Osborne was able to shave that down to 4.24 percent.