NORWICH – Chenango County failed to break even on this year’s tax sale of delinquent properties, and actually lost some.

The overall net loss was $269. About $400,000 was reclaimed.

There were originally 57 parcels identified for the annual tax sale, of which only 48 had qualified high bids. Five properties had been in bankruptcy protection since 2005, with two of those going back as far as 1997. County officials made a concerted effort to stop the bleeding this year on properties shielded from foreclosure, and the loss was partly a result of that, said Deputy Treasurer Barbara Strier.