ATLANTA -- Atlanta's fiscal crisis is even worse than expected.

The city is now facing a big revenue gap of up to $80 million.

That could mean more belt tightening for the city.

Will there be another round of citywide layoffs?

Atlanta's chief operating officer the laid out a grim financial picture.

Greg Giornelli said property tax collection is way down.

The question is will that mean more cutbacks for Atlanta?

Giornelli would not stop to answer our questions on the city's deepening fiscal crisis on his way to council's finance and executive committee meeting.

Inside the meeting Giornelli told council members the city's fiscal health is deteriorating.

"We are now projecting the revenue shortfall will be in the $70-80 million range," said Giornelli.

That's a big jump from the $50 million the city had projected earlier.

Giornelli said property tax collection is down more than 15 percent.

We asked Mayor Shirley Franklin if the city is looking at another round of furloughs and layoffs.

Franklin did not respond to our questions.

So we asked city council members.

C.T. Martin said cutbacks would mean more layoffs and more furloughs.

Martin said he's waiting to see if the mayor will contact council on those possibilities.

Last year the mayor proposed a property tax increase that would have raised taxes by about $35 per home.

Council rejected that proposal.

Finance Committee Chairman Howard Shook said a tax increase during today’s economic times would be just unpopular.

Shook said he would not support a property tax increase "if it were to be held tomorrow.”

Giornelli told council members the mayor will make personnel cuts only if absolutely necessary.

He says the mayor should have a better idea what steps she'll take by the end of the month.