More than 1,000 people have had their say on the financial future of Aberdeenshire Council.
The authority carried out an engagement survey ahead of its budget meeting for next year.
The survey asked residents and employees to share their views on different ways the council could cut costs – with some of the 1,318 respondents supporting the idea of dipping into their own pockets to save services, or communities taking responsibility for local services.
It comes as the authority attempts to make £50million worth of savings over the next four years.
Council co-leader Martin Kitts-Hayes last night said he was pleased with the response of the study, which will be taken into consideration ahead of next Thursday’s budget meeting.
He said: “As local authority funding becomes ever tighter, we will explore all sorts of ways to reduce our overheads and deliver our services for less.
“An important part of the process is to be aware of the views of residents and staff and build that into our thinking.”
His co-leader, Richard Thomson, said: “Aberdeenshire Council is looking to adopt a more business-focused approach to running local services and to drive down costs.
“However, this must be done in conjunction with communities so the views of people who live in Aberdeenshire, or work for the council, are vital in helping us take decisions which meet the needs of the council and the wider communities that we serve.”