Jim Eckstein’s political blind spots and rough edges did not serve him well in his term as Butler County commissioner.

The career general contractor’s antics — hand painted signs on his pickup truck, inflammatory leaflets and co-workers’ complaints, among others — brought Eckstein more than his share of ridicule from the media, fellow commissioners and the public. No one was more surprised than Eckstein when he lost the spring primary and a shot at a second term.

But few people ever questioned Eckstein’s passion for the job.

That was made especially apparent this week, the final week of his term of office, when Eckstein proposed several changes to the 2016 county budget — ones he says would have cut $3.1 million and lessened a property tax increase.

A few weeks ago, the county proposed a $150.7 million budget with a $61.7 million general fund. The budget has a $4.4 million deficit, which is to be plugged with a 3-mill tax increase and the depletion of the county’s $3.3 million operating reserve. That budget was adopted Wednesday, with Eckstein voting no.

With a 2015 tax rate of 24.6 mills, the proposed increase would bump that by 12 percent, to 27.6 mills. A mill is one-tenth of a penny; each mill generates $1 in tax for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.

Eckstein’s changes focused on $2 million in Act 13 Marcellus Shale natural gas state impact fees, which was omitted from the 2016 general fund budget proposal. He disagrees with chief clerk Amy Wilson, who says it’s more prudent to keep gas impact fee money separate from the general fund because it’s a special fund that can change from year to year.

Eckstein proposed using the impact fee money to cover $300,000 for drug, veteran and mental health court programs, $500,000 for a contingency fund and $900,000 for 911 radio upgrades.

Another $340,000 would come from department salary budgets, which Eckstein says are overinflated; and $500,000 would come from the workers’ compensation fund. The privatization of the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in 2014 means the county has about 220 fewer employees.

Finally, he proposed reductions in office cleaning and travel expenses and $100,000 from the prison’s contingency fund.

When totaled up, the added money in the general fund would reduce the tax increase to 1.25 mills.

In the judgment of other county officials, some of Eckstein’s ideas have merit but most do not. It should be remembered that these same officials are the ones who backed the 3-mill tax increase and the raid on the reserve fund.

We agree with controller Ben Holland’s assessment: Eckstein’s proposal is not perfect, but we’re pleased that Eckstein kept asking questions about the budget — and looking for alternatives to a tax increase.

Thanks for your efforts, Jim.