Butler County Commissioners approved the 2013 general fund budget of $79.3 million Thursday during their last meeting of the year.

That budget is projected to be a balanced one for the first time in years after department heads and elected officials made cuts to hold down expenditures and vacancies went unfilled.

The county is also poised to end 2012 in the black, but the final tally will not be known until the books are closed out next week.

Also approved at Thursday’s meeting was the county’s 2013 non-general fund budget of $273 million.

Longtime Commissioner Charles “Chuck” Furmon attended his last meeting after serving on the board for 16 years.

Ohio 53rd District Rep. Tim Derickson (R-Hanover Twp.) presented Furmon with a commendation for his “years of loyalty and outstanding service to Butler County.”

Commission President Don Dixon and Commissioner Cindy Carpenter also expressed their appreciation for Furmon’s work.

“It has been a pleasure working with him,” Dixon said.

Commissioner-elect TC Rogers, who defeated Furmon in the primary and was elected in the November election, also thanked him for his service.

“Only time will tell whether the voters made the right decision in our election,” Rogers said.

Furmon was appreciative of the praise and best wishes, but said, “I didn’t want a lot of fanfare. I just want to slide out.”

Furmon, who served as a Hamilton police officer and mayor of Hamilton, said he is looking forward to a “true retirement.”