Mayor Mike Johnston didn’t say how many people will lose their jobs amid the city’s budget crisis, but a new letter to city employees specifies when they’ll begin in August.

Denver employees will learn in a few weeks if they're being laid off. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston emailed employees, saying layoffs will start the week of Aug. 18. A two-page letter CBS News Colorado obtained outlines the next steps, including possible severance packages. The city has already posted a "Layoff Separation Guide" on its website.

As Denver continues to look for ways to pare down its $250 million budget shortfall, nervous city employees got a first look at the timeline for layoff announcements and how