NORWICH – Chenango County’s financial leaders are estimating a nearly 5 percent increase on the tax levy next year in order to keep government running and services provided.

“It’s not great news, and this is a mid-stream guess. We’ve got a long ways to go,” Treasurer William E. Evans told members of the Finance Committee last Thursday before passing out documentation intended to explain his office’s calculations.

At an overall county government cost of more than $80 million, the local share for 2010 is estimated to be $23,818,392, a 4.9 percent increase over 2009.

The increase could be offset by federal Medicaid assistance, and not all departments’ budgets have been scrutinized. However, the sheriff’s, corrections and nurses contracts are yet to be settled.

Last year’s total payroll was $17.67 million plus $7.35 million in benefits. Benefits already negotiated for next year represent a half million dollar increase.

Revenues from the New York State Department of Social Services, money that is intended to compensate the county for administering state mandated programs, are expected to be down by nearly $1 million.