CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The more the state struggles with money, the more the county is forced to pick up the tab.

North Carolina is struggling with its budget so much that it’s telling many counties it can't pay for things that have been covered in the past.

Those counties, including Mecklenburg, are left trying to pick up the pieces, and it comes at the taxpayers’ expense.

Mecklenburg County budget director Hyong Yi showed the numbers to Eyewitness News and explained that the state decided to withhold roughly $9 million from the county. That money had previously gone to support mental health services, the county jail and the Department of Social Services.

“This is all part of the social fabric of Mecklenburg County,” Yi said. “And, right now, the county is extremely stressed in terms of being able to do its part to keep that fabric together."

The state already plans to withhold more money next year -- about $12 million.

County finance director Dena Diorio doesn't think the county will strike it rich between now and then.

"We're not going to see growth in our assessed valuation that will give us additional property taxes,” Diori said. “We're not projecting increases in sales tax next year. So, those major revenue sources are going to be flat for us. That is different than what we've seen in prior years.”

County leaders used rainy day funds to soften the blow this time, but that only solves the problem for the moment.

They still have to replace those rainy day dollars and figure out more long-term solutions.

The end result may be that taxpayers have fewer services available to them.

"We don't use parks, but that doesn't mean I want to see them shut down,” said taxpayer Bill Gaiennie. “We don't use the jail, but that doesn't mean we want them shut down."