NORWICH – After three quarters of decline, Chenango County’s fourth quarter 2009 receipts were up 1.83 percent over the same period last year, according to Treasurer William E. Evans.

The quarterly figure is ahead of a previous New York State Department of Taxation and Finance report showing collections in the county down 0.6 percent. Evans speculated that auto sales from the federal Cash for Clunkers program may have boosted collections.

“We’re up just a whisker and we’ll take it. It’s good news for us,” he told members of the Finance Committee last Thursday.