Nearly $900,000 has been returned to the county’s general fund through voluntary cuts by several departments.

Butler County Commissioners approved a resolution Thursday “unappriopriating” $895,596 to help close a projected $2 million gap in the budget heading into 2013.

Last month, a strong message was sent by the commission that deficit spending could not continue after hearing the budget forecast for next year. Early projections are for a $1.5 million to $2 million deficit in 2013.

County Administrator Charles Young and Pete Landrum, former assistant county administrator, visited office holders and administrators asking for cuts and pouring over budgets to determine where cuts could be made.

Young and commissioners expressed pleasure with the results.

“We are almost halfway there,” said Don Dixon, commission president. “This is a huge step in getting the budget where it needs to be.”

Commissioner Cindy Carpenter commended Young, the office holders and administrators for working together and combing though line items in budgets to find areas to trim.

Departments returning the most amounts of cash include the Butler County Sheriff’s Office ($205,000), information services ($190,000), and the board of elections ($111,231).

Young said savings in the information services came from restructuring of some telephone contracts and the deferment of equipment purchases.

The board of elections over anticipated what would be needed his year in postage, according to Deputy Director Jocelyn Bucaro.

“We took a look at our salary accounts,” Bucaro said, noting the office had very little overtime in the summer months and during the March primary.

She added the commission has been good to them, allowing the office to purchase equipment in 2011 that has made the office more efficient.

“They are reaping the dividends now,” Bucaro said.

Budget hearings for 2013 begin Oct. 8. Young said a key is to carry the cuts and cost savings into next year. A balanced budget, which will mean another $1 million in cuts, is the goal.