NORWICH – A public hearing on next year’s proposed Chenango County budget will be held tonight at 7 in the County Office Building on Court Street.

The 2010 budget would call for a .6 percent increase in the tax levy. The Chenango County Board of Supervisors will present the nearly $81 million budget to the public for comment, as required by law, and then vote on the plan.

The real property tax levy of $22.84 million is up about $136,789 or .6 percent. The average countywide tax rate of $13.75 will fluctuate, either increasing or decreasing, in all 22 municipalities based on state-established equalization rates and assessment totals in each town. The tentative tax rate dropped an average of 1.73 cents per $1,000 of assessed value from last year.

Spending for next year is up $2,010,000 or 2.55 percent, in large part due to increases in the cost of administering New York State’s social services programs. For the first time since 2002, the amount from surplus needed to help balance the budget exceeded $1 million, at $1.34 million.