NORWICH – A seven-minute long public hearing Tuesday night of Chenango County’s proposed $84 million spending plan for next year is expected to be followed by a unanimous vote of approval today in the supervisors’ chambers.

The budget calls for a 3.5 percent tax levy increase over last year, but still meets New York’s recently adopted 2 percent tax cap legislation. Chenango County Treasurer and Budget Officer William C. Craine explained that this is due to a partial pension cost exclusion with the addition of newly assessed real property.

The average tax rate is down some 33 cents or about 2.56 percent. Individual town and city rates will vary by assessed value and equalization rates.

Craine said while he was pleased with the overall result, the county continues to see increasing and costly state mandates and aid reduction. For example, the county faced the following state imposed financial burdens: