As a practical matter, $65,000 isn’t going to make much difference to the Kansas state budget, but State Treasurer Dennis McKinney’s decision to return that amount of unused money from his office’s budget is a refreshing gesture.

McKinney announced Monday that he had been able to trim the treasurer’s budget by using new technology and eliminating two full-time jobs. The treasurer’s office had an operating budget of $4.2 million for the fiscal year that ended June 30.

At the same time, McKinney’s office was able to return a record amount of unclaimed property to Kansas residents during the just-ended fiscal year. The office reported last month that it had returned $14.6 million in unclaimed property to nearly 54,000 Kansans. That total is 34 percent higher than in 2009 and tops the previous one-year record of $10.8 million.

The $65,000 represents only 1.6 percent of the treasurer’s budget, so it wasn’t a huge savings, but any government agency that is able to cut its costs even a little — while continuing to provide good service to Kansans — deserves a pat on the back.