NORWICH – Nearly $611,000 in federal medical assistance funding - part of President Obama’s stimulus package for states - has made its way to Chenango County.

Department of Social Services Commissioner Bette Osborne said the money would flow into a revenue account for the county, but she wasn’t sure what it would be used for. Osborne told members of her standing committee Tuesday that the funds weren’t earmarked specifically for health care.

The Commissioner previously feared that Chenango County will lose about $370,000 under Gov. Paterson’s proposed budget, mostly in reimbursements for administration costs and community options and youth recreation programs.

A portion of the funding will help pay for a $282,000 retroactive bill from the New York Office of Children and Family Services. Osborne said DSS would be able to come up with enough to carry the department through to the third quarter of the year.