A day after the city council unanimously voted to postpone job cuts, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa ordered the immediate layoff of 1,000 city employees to help reduce the city’s $208 million budget shortfall. 

Villaraigosa said the city charter allows him to take “immediate action toward balancing this fiscal year’s budget.” He says the layoffs will strengthen the city’s credit rating and its long-term fiscal health. 

“Every budget is a balancing act,’’ the mayor wrote on his Web site. “Every budget is a statement of values. And every budget is an opportunity to secure our future. Here at City Hall, it is no different. We are living beyond our means and have difficult choices to make. We must protect our economic future.’’

The city’s budget analyst, Miguel Santana, says the cuts are necessary given the city’s intense budget gap.  He says delaying layoffs will only lead to bigger cuts later.

Villaraigosa says 360 of the targeted employees may be able to transfer to other positions to avoid losing their jobs. These employees will have until 5 p.m. Monday to transfer.

In addition to cutting 1,000 jobs, Villaraigosa asked the City Council to adopt an ordinance that would allow city employees to retire without the usual 30- to 60-day advance application requirement.  He also asked the council to transfer $40 million in uncommitted funds to the city’s General Fund.

“I do not relish these decisions,’’ Villaraigosa wrote. “But neither will I shy away from them or pretend they don’t exist. Angelenos all over our city are making tougher choices between food or their prescription drugs, between school supplies and a doctor visit for their child, between their electric bill and their rent. It is time we at city Hall follow their lead, set priorities and make the tough choices necessary to protect our core responsibilities.’’