Taxpayers in Aberdeen could see their bills rise by 3% as the local authority battles to close a £17.5million budget blackhole.
Councillors will meet next Wednesday to decide on the budget for the year ahead after a 4.5% reduction in the city’s Scottish Government grant.
Finance officers at the town house have drafted a total of £32million worth of potential ways to close the gap.
A 3% rise on all council tax bands would net around £3million, while cutting 200 of the authority’s more than 8,000 staff would free around £4million.
Arms-length council body Sport Aberdeen could face a 10% cut, threatening swimming pools and other facilities but saving around £620,000.
Other ideas put forward include closing all public toilets, cutting library funding and encouraging unpaid volunteers to be school crossing patrollers.
Council leader Jenny Laing said the ruling Labour group would look to “spend prudently” and reiterated they would avoid using council reserves.
She said: “I think what we have seen over the last five years is that we have kept a close eye on the financial position of this council.
“We don’t want to do anything that will jeopardise that so we will scrutinise carefully our options.”
SNP group leader Stephen Flynn said his group would look to protect “frontline services” but still balance the budget.
He said: “From our immediate point of view there is no need for the threat to libraries, public toilets or music tuition.
“We are still considering our budget at this time and will make more commitments at the budget.”
Liberal Democrat leader Ian Yuill said: “Our party’s priority is to public services. We will reveal our position on the day.”
Sport Aberdeen did not respond to requests for comment.
