The Butler County commissioners this morning approved a $196 million 2013 budget that includes a 1-mill property tax hike, which amounts to a $17 increase in the annual bill of the average homeowner.

Several budget changes were made to lower the proposed increase from 2 mills to 1 mill.

Among the reductions is a cut of $333,000 from the nearly $5 million annual contribution to Butler County Community College.

The commissioners also cut $357,000 from the workers’ compensation fund and moved $900,000 from natural gas drilling impact fees in a contingency fund into the county’s general fund.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, said the proposed budget needed to be pruned to reduce the tax burden on county residents.

Commissioners Dale Pinkerton and Jim Eckstein agreed that the final budget is the best alternative.

The 2013 budget increase taxes from a total of 23.6 mills to 24.6 mills.

One mill of tax generates roughly $1.6 million for the county.