(WSB Radio) -- Cost cutting measures initiated by Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin kick in on Friday.  City Hall and City Hall East will be closed to the public.

The Mayor ordered City Hall and City Hall East closed to the public on Fridays in an effort to offset the city's budget deficit which is now estimated at between $50 and $60 million dollars.

Earlier this week, Franklin announced plans to lay off 222 additional city workers, close many of the city's recreation centers and to implement "brown outs" at several Atlanta Fire Stations.