SAN DIEGO -- While he doesn't have many specifics yet, Mayor Jerry Sanders is aware tough times are ahead for San Diego.

"We're trying to make sure that the cuts we make are reasoned cuts, that we're not decimating city services. But I have to tell you, it's pretty grim right now," Sanders said Wednesday.

Sanders was talking about efforts to close the city $179 million budget deficit. He's been meeting with city department heads and senior staff about ways to cut their budgets, and he hopes to have a budget plan ready in the next week or so.

The city won't fill 800 vacant positions, but there will be layoffs, and Sanders couldn't say who would lose their jobs, or how many. He said parks and libraries may face reduced hours, and he said police and fire will not be exempt from the cuts. They make up 55 percent of the city's budget, and Sanders said the city can't make the necessary cuts without cutting them.

City Councilman Carl DeMaio said Sanders should be focusing on pension reform as a way to close the deficit.

"I want to see a budget plan that includes real pension reform, real retiree health care reform," said DeMaio. "If you don't deal with those issues, we'll be back next year and the following year and the year after that with more budget deficits."

Sanders pointed out that there are lawsuits involved with the pension.

"It's not like you can just go in and make up your own rules. Carl DeMaio knows that. Absolutely ridiculous to keep going back on that," said Sanders.

Sanders said making cuts to the 2011 budget now will save money in the long term, but admitted it would be painful.