Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and City Council leaders have begun laying the groundwork for the elimination of at least 1,000 more jobs by July 1 in an attempt to eradicate a budget shortfall that has now ballooned to nearly $200 million.

Only one month after 2,400 city employees were offered early retirement to help patch a budget gap, the mayor and five council members are scheduled to instruct their budget analysts as early as today to prepare for layoffs and look at privatizing city-owned parking garages, golf courses and airports in Van Nuys and Ontario.

Three council members — Bernard C. Parks, Jan Perry and Dennis Zine — confirmed that they had signed the letter but declined to discuss its contents. Villaraigosa Deputy Chief of Staff Matt Szabo said late Wednesday that the letter was not ready for release.

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