An unprecedented number of Miami government jobs could soon be eliminated if the city fails to find a different way to balance its budget.

If city officials don’t find another solution in the near future, Miami could be forced to lay off 1,128 employees, or about 31 percent of the city’s workforce. Officials have been avidly looking for ways to mend a $100 million budget gap.

One tentative plan would change a civil service law and place the lowest-paid, shortest-tenured employees at the highest risk of being laid off, while allowing the highest-paid, longest-serving workers to keep their jobs.

According to an article by the Miami Herald, many alternatives have been suggested in an attempt to avoid cutting city jobs. Such things as charging outsiders to use a firing range at the College of Policing and charging anyone who wants to use the city’s fingerprinting resources could bring in about $10 million.

Miami is having such trouble balancing its budget because of declining property-tax revenues and increasing union pensions that were previously approved. Some measures have already been taken in order to find a solution, including hiring a banker, making some layoffs, and freezing salary increases and hiring.

In addition, city officials declared a state of “financial urgency” in May after failing to negotiate with the firefighters’ union, which represents more than 600 firefighters. Those employees are among the highest paid in Miami, with many bringing in more than $300,000 per year, including salary and benefits.

City officials must vote on a balanced budget no later than September 30.