CHENANGO COUNTY – The Chenango County Board of Supervisors moved to adopt the proposed 2017 budget at their special meeting on Tuesday night which followed a presentation by County Treasurer Bill Craine and a public hearing.

Craine presented the 2017 preliminary budget to the public at the meeting where he emphasized that the County is in good financial standing as one of the least fiscally stressed counties in the State, as well as being one of only two counties who has no debt.

One financial stressor, according to Craine, is that New York State is the only state in the country that requires counties to provide a portion of their real property tax levy to support Medicaid. Craine says that about $188,000 a week is sent to Albany, and that totals nearly 40 percent of the County's local real property tax levy of $25 million.

Craine proceeded to note that one disturbing trend in the County is the demographic trend. Since 2010, Chenango County's population has dropped 3 percent. Craine said that a study conducted by Cornell University a few years ago indicated that the County's population would be down to $38,000 or $39,000 in the next 30 years, but the study is currently being updated.