Aberdeen City Council will send letters to more than 30,000 Aberdeen homes, warning them of steep increases in council tax rates.
A total of 31,000 items will be distributed in the £15,000 mass mailing to people living in bands from E to H in the city.
An urgent business meeting was convened last night to pass the motion, which promises the letters will be posted “as soon as possible”, ahead of the tax hike on April 1.
The cost will be covered by council contingency funds.
Changes to the multiplier rate for the higher bands are the first change to council taxes in more than nine years and will see rates for the 946 city properties in band H rise by as much as 22.5%.
The letter also encourages single person households with an annual income under £16,750 and all others with a net income below £25,000 in income and under £16,000 in savings to apply for relief from the increase.
When the changes were first announced by the Scottish Government, there was anger the extra funds raised would not be kept in the areas from where the money originated.
Holyrood has since performed a u-turn on the measure.
Signed by head of finance Steven Whyte, the letter reads: “Scottish Parliament legislation is to be introduced to change council tax and this will come into force from April 2017.
“The council therefore wishes to give you early notice of the changes to council tax to help you prepare for paying your council tax from April.”
Council leader, Jenny Laing, said: “I think it is important that we highlight this, especially given the size of the rises that people are facing.”
However, SNP group leader, Stephen Flynn, questioned whether sending the letters would “set a precedent”, meaning the authority would have to post letters about any changes to council tax in the future.
But ultimately, the motion was backed unanimously.
