New York  - New York City will lose an additional 3,750 government jobs in coming months as part of efforts to balance the next fiscal year budget while the recession continues to cause more damage to Wall Street, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Friday.

The new job losses will add to a total of 13,500 jobs in the city government expected to be eliminated this year. The job cuts would save 3.4 billion dollars in order to balance City Hall's 2009-2010 budget, which begins on July 1.

Bloomberg also called for an increase in the sale tax rate to at least 8.625 percent, and possibly even higher, up from the current rate of 8.375 percent. He asked all city departments to cut their budgets by 16 per cent.

He, however, spared the police, firefighters and teachers from the job cuts in the government work force of more than 100,000 employees.

"The budget isn't just about numbers," Bloomberg said while unveiling his new financial plan at City Hall. "It's about making choices that keep our social safety net strong for those in need.

"It's about keeping our streets clean and safe for your kids and mine. It's about continuing to improve our schools," he said. "It's about creating jobs and keeping jobs here. It's about keeping New York, New York."

Bloomberg predicted "very big problems" for the city's budgets from 2010 through 2012. (dpa)