The Butler County Board of Commissions expects to cut around $6 million from its annual budget, hoping to balance its costs and expenses in the midst of an economic downturn.

The board met Thursday after weeks of trimming costs from various county departments, an attempt to meet the projected reduction of $7 million from a $97 million budget.

While falling short of the goal, Butler County Finance Director Robert Lowery said the cuts were necessary, as the county's expenses will most likely exceed its income.

"We're trying to balance the budget, Lowery said. "Revenues that were forecasted for 2009 didn't cover the entire budget … we want to get our expenses in line."

Already, a Dayton Daily News article from earlier this week reported that commissioners approved a 5 percent pay cut for nine department directors with the highest take-home pay. Commissioners have already trimmed departments under their control a combined $1.5 million.

Late last week, Butler County Common Pleas Court also submitted a budget that was slimmed down by $500,000, matching an earlier cut by the Butler County Juvenile Court. The Butler County Sheriff's Office is also working on saving money, announcing in mid-January that the department was freezing hiring and cutting 20 positions in order save the county nearly $1.5 million.

Lowery said most of the cuts, however, will not be overseen by the commission but by the departments themselves, leaving most decisions up to department heads.

"(The commission) didn't tell (the departments) what they had to do," Lowery said. "They let each department make the decisions on where they would and should make the appropriate cuts. All the departments contributed and some were able to do more than others, it just depends on the nature of their operations."

These cuts, Lowery said, have involved a few grim scenarios.

"There have already been effects in some of the county departments," Lowery said. "Some had laid-off employees, some of the positions won't be filled.

Many employees historically received raises (and) now those who received them in past years will not be getting any (while) some other people will get pay cuts."

Despite the tension though, Lowery said all the departments forced to make cuts were doing their best to cope so far, and there had been a good level of participation and cooperation.

On an optimistic note, Nancy Nix, Butler County treasurer, said her office was relatively untouched by the cuts.

"It really depends on the department and the size of their budget," Nix said.

Lowery said it is even harder to cut back now in light of the recession.

"This is definitely a reflection of the economy," Lowery said. "Revenues are way off. We have to cut our expenses. These are extraordinary times … and the departments are doing the best they can to cut back."

Benjamin Linkow, assistant professor of economics and international studies at Miami University, said that while the budget cuts may face problems in areas such as road maintenance, any future repercussions are difficult to predict.

"It's hard to say," Linkow said. "(Right now), it's all just lots of speculation.