NORWICH – The Chenango County tax sale covered the amount owed in back taxes, penalties, interest and more according to a tentative total provided by the county treasurer.

A total of 57 properties throughout the county received bids totaling $759,818.49 at the June 29 sale. The properties were in arrears for taxes, penalties, and interest totaling $421,732.41, leaving the county with a net profit of $277,559.67 minus staff, title search and other costs incurred by the county’s Real Property Tax Services office.

Chenango County Second Deputy Treasurer Barbara Strier reported there were still eight properties that had not received bids and the end total could change due to bid forfeitures. “We still had better results (than previous years),” she reported.

Thirteen of the properties were sold to adjacent property owners which is a preferable outcome, according to Strier. Five properties had from 14 to 18 bidders each. A parcel in Pharsalia on North Road valued at $44,500 went to the highest bidder of $90,460. Norse Energy Inc., the natural gas company drilling in Chenango County, bid on properties in Coventry, Pharsalia and Smithville.