The United Way of Butler County is projecting a $180,000 shortfall in its annual fundraising campaign this fiscal year.

The agency announced the figure this morning at its annual meeting at Butler County Community College.

The campaign, which officially ends June 30, is expected to cap at $1.42 million, short of the $1.6 million goal set last fall.

It also is more than $64,000 short of the campaign receipts from the previous fiscal year.

“It's been a difficult year from the financial standpoint,” said Jake Friel, the controller with Butler County Community College and the agency's treasurer.

In response to the shortfalls, the United Way will have an overall 40 percent reduction in grants awarded to agencies next year, but those reductions will not be made across the board to all organizations.