Facing a $212-million budget shortfall, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has mandated 1,000 city jobs be eliminated. The decree by Villaraigosa came after the City Council voted this week to delay any decision on layoffs.

“I don’t do this because I want to. I do this because I must,” Villaraigosa told the Los Angeles Times.

Mass layoffs have been averted for the past three years in Los Angeles, but a continuing decline in tax revenue has put the city in a fiscal emergency, according to the city’s top budget official. It is hoped 360 workers can be moved to jobs not affected by the budget emergency. Additionally, up to 723 other vacancies could come forth through the early retirement program. Once those are filled at least 100 workers could be getting layoff notices.