CHENANGO COUNTY – Chenango County has been kept off a list of “fiscally stressed” local governments, according to a report from the Office of the New York State Comptroller.

This marks only the second year the state office has evaluated the financial stability of local governments. The final report – which was released last month – provides an early warning of fiscal stress in local governments and school districts by examining their financial information, and it gives feedback to local leaders.

“One of our precepts is we don't want to be on that list,” said Chenango County Treasurer Bill Craine at a meeting of the county’s Finance Committee last week.

According to the Comptroller’s report, Chenango County has actually improved from last year’s standing, lowering its fiscal score from 12.5 percent in 2013 to 3.3 percent in 2014. The lower the score, the better off a local government is, explained Craine.

Chenango’s current score puts it among the four least fiscally stressed counties in the state, along with Niagara (0 percent), Ontario (3.3 percent), and Tioga (3.3 percent).