The city will face some tough financial choices in the coming months without another stimulus package, Mayor Bill de Blasio warned Monday.

The mayor said he and his administration are now trying to come up with a way to close a nearly $4 billion budget gap projected for the next fiscal year beginning in July. 

“That gap could easily grow. If there's not a stimulus, we're going to see less and less revenue coming in,” de Blasio told reporters. "If there's not a stimulus, the state of New York is going to be in dire, dire shape, and, unfortunately, might have to pass on cuts to localities.”

Because of deals with the unions, the city said it would not lay off any public employees during this fiscal year. But layoffs might be unavoidable in the future.

“Sadly and no one wants it, but layoffs could still be on the table going forward, certainly for next fiscal year if we do not get that stimulus,” said de Blasio. 

From April to September, New Yorkers received approximately $40 billion in stimulus aid, including checks, unemployment benefits and paycheck protection loans to employers, according to the mayor’s office. 

“Today’s figures make one thing clear: Federal stimulus works, and New York City needs another, immediately,” the mayor said. “From ramping up testing to investing in safe schools to feeding everyone in need, our priorities are clear: public health will drive our recovery. The federal government must do its part and pass a stimulus package that ensures our recovery can continue full speed ahead."

The pandemic put more than 900,000 New Yorkers out of work. The mayor said that the last package of federal stimulus aid was critical to the city’s ability to recover from a dark spring.

“From May to October, New York City recovered approximately 300,000 jobs, or one third of jobs lost in March and April. The unemployment rate as of October was 13.2%, down from 20.3% in June,” according to a press release from the mayor's office. 

But de Blasio warned that federal stimulus benefits are running out quickly and that private sector job growth is slowing.

In June, New York City’s private sector gained 100,000 jobs. Only 15,000 were added in October.

The mayor called on congress to immediately pass a stimulus bill.

Since the pandemic started the city has had to make deep cuts, which critics say have impacted quality of life. In July, $106 million was cut from the Sanitation Departments operating budget. Then in September, Mayor Bill de Blasio furloughed himself and nearly 500 members of the City Hall staff.

To read New York City’s November Financial Plan Update for Fiscal Year 2021, visit here.