$121 million budget deficit. perhaps the real purpose of the plan is to get everybody used to the idea of higher taxes and fees. these cuts are particularly tough. it was anything but our rosy budget picture today, presented at the city s board of estimates. this is the biggest budget debt reduction in 19 years. it calls for the layoffs of more than 600 city employees, 120 in the police department and 91 in the fire department. seven city fire houses would close. 29 rec jurors would close. 29rec centers would close. let me be clear. some of the cuts would be forced to make are simply unacceptable. the mayor said she will present an alternative plan in three weeks that include nurmi new measures to raise new revenue and offset some of the cuts detail today. for now she will only say what she won t do. i will not propose to increase the property tax. one likely target is the city s nonprofits, such as hospitals and universities. they are exempt from the ci