Aberdeen city council is staring at a repair bill of nearly £60million.
And new figures reveal that the local authority is spending just £10m a year to try and plug the £58.7m gap.
Crumbling roofs and rotting windows and external doors are prevalent, with around 6% of the overall space under the authority’s control rated “C” (poor) or “D” (bad).
However, administration bosses defended their record last night, claiming the difference between the required maintenance and spending by the council was being reduced.
The report to tomorrow’s finance committee rates “C” as “showing major problems and/or not operating optimally” while “D” “does not support the delivery of services at all”.
Around £5.5m of work has been committed or completed so far this year with many more currently approved.
But many of the city’s beloved buildings, including a number of schools, have repairs outstanding in the “C” or “D” category.
SNP finance spokesman Graham Dickson accused the ruling Labour, Conservative and independent administration of concentrating on “vanity projects”.
He said: “This administration seems to be forever finding new funds for vanity projects, but not paying the money for the properties they have to take care of.
“I think that further down the line, we will need to urgently fix these problems that they have put aside.”
Liberal Democrat Martin Greig, who is standing in at tomorrow’s meeting, added that the authority had neglected maintenance in pursuit of populism.
He said: “They have ignored maintenance of solid buildings and the need to refurbish and upgrade 1960s and 1970s school buildings – and gone for the splashy ‘new schools’ headlines instead – which is not always wise.
“Pupils at the Victorian schools are suffering in particular from the lack of money to spend on essential upkeep like roof and window repairs just to keep the rain out.”
Last night finance convener Willie Young hit out at his political rivals.
He said: “I think the public will remember the £127million of cuts brought in by the Liberals and SNP when they were in power.
“Opposition is easy, politics is about making choices.
“We are investing millions in the city and all at a time when we are the lowest funded council in Scotland.
“Unfortunately, we can’t do everything and the fact the gap is closing means we will eventually complete all these repairs.”
Aberdeen Grammar School’s roofs and changing facilities are in the “C” condition, as are Northfield Academy’s windows, roof and doors, the windows at Harlaw, the toilets at Bridge of Don and the internal fabric of St Machar.
Primaries with repairs outstanding include Woodside school, Bramble Brae, Ashley Road and the windows and roofs of Holy Family.
The windows of the Beach Ballroom, Cults library roof, and the toilets at central library are among other council assets rated poor.
Last night a parent at Ashley Road said the state of the school had been a long-running issue.
She added: “They have been dealing with it as and when they can, but they say they just don’t have the budget to do it all at once.
“The kids say they are sometimes cold with the drafts through the doors and windows. It’s really disappointing when you pay your council tax.”
