NORWICH – A public hearing on next year’s proposed Chenango County budget will be held tonight at 7 in the County Office Building on Court Street.

The 2010 budget would call for a .6 percent increase in the tax levy. The Chenango County Board of Supervisors will present the nearly $81 million budget to the public for comment, as required by law, and then vote on the plan.

The real property tax levy of $22.84 million is up about $136,789 or .6 percent. The average countywide tax rate of $13.75 will fluctuate, either increasing or decreasing, in all 22 municipalities based on state-established equalization rates and assessment totals in each town. The tentative tax rate dropped an average of 1.73 cents per $1,000 of assessed value from last year.