NORWICH - The preliminary social services budget for 2011 would hike the amount Chenango County taxpayers pay for the department by $1.25 million.

Department of Social Services Commissioner Bette Osborne was quick to point out that the county received $900,000 in the one-time only federal stimulus last year, which accounts for much of the increase.

The projected amount is also due to more caseloads, higher costs per day for residential foster care, some reductions in children’s services program reimbursements and an increase to the state cap on Medicaid.

Worker salaries increased 3.5 and 3.6 percent, and fringe benefit payouts, including retirement, are up 29 percent.

In her report to the Chenango County Health and Human Services committee on Tuesday, Osborne said she wasn’t certain about the fringe number, and indicated that it could indeed be higher. She said she has tried to offset personnel costs by budgeting more for over time expenses rather than adding staff.