CHENANGO COUNTY - Fearful that Chenango County will be shortchanged in the next COVID-19 response package, the Chenango County Board of Supervisors is calling on federal lawmakers to bypass New York State and instead give aid directly to county and local governments.

A resolution demanding direct assistance was unanimously accepted by the Chenango County Board of Supervisors last month. The hope, local officials say, is to reap as much possible benefit from any pending stimulus package that passes the federal legislature.

“If there’s some negotiation on the terms of a stimulus bill, that will, at least locally, become important,” said County Board Clerk RC Woodford, noting that the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions, or HEROES, Act was recently passed in the House and now faces challenges in the Senate. If backed by the Senate, it could become the nation’s second bout of stimulus money.

Assuming a new wave of federal assistance passes on Capitol Hill, Chenango County leaders argue that money for local government is best put directly in the hands of local government. The resolution adopted by the County Board notes mounting hardships born by the local governments statewide, including two billion in revenue shortfalls from lost commercial spending. Chenango County alone is $700,000 behind last year in tax revenue.