CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Across Charlotte, words such as “furlough,” “salary cut” and “layoff” have become painfully common.

Now, Mecklenburg County leaders are using those very words to describe the possible consequences of their own budget shortfall.

“We're also going to look at employee furloughs, salary reductions at a certain level, (and) probably some layoffs,” said Jennifer Roberts, Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners chairwoman.

In a letter sent out last week, county manager Harry Jones acknowledged he's asking all departments to figure out how to cut 20 percent from their budgets next year. County leaders said that 20 percent is a worst-case scenario based on drops in their two primary sources of revenue -- sales taxes and property taxes.

Last year the taxes combined raised about $1 billion for the county, so 20 percent of that would mean the county has to figure out how to cut $200 million from next year's budget.

To get there, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation centers could face cuts in hours of operation. The same would likely be true within the county's popular library system. Some customers said they are already resigned.

“Everything is cutting back. So at this time, if it has to be cut, it has to be cut,” said library customer Willie Miller.

But Roberts said for the first time, county employees could also find their jobs and salaries threatened.

“I don't think you can escape it. Private, nonprofit, academia and Mecklenburg County -- I don’t think anybody can be without worry,” she said.

Roberts said that right now furloughs or salary cuts are preferable to layoffs because anyone laid off is more likely to get in line for the county's social services, which are already overloaded and underfunded.

County departments are still working on their estimates of how and where they'd cut 20 percent of their budgets.

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