Plans to axe the equivalent of nearly 90 full-time jobs and make millions of pounds worth of cuts have been revealed by Argyll and Bute Council.
Road maintenance, school janitors and public toilets all face cutbacks.
The authority has identified a £20.2million funding shortfall in the next three years and services are set to suffer in the process.
In papers going before the council’s policy and resources committee on Thursday, policy savings totalling £11.477million during the next three years have been proposed.
A further £1.245million in management and operational savings is also being brought forward.
Oban-based Independent administration councillor Kieron Green said: “I am expecting it to be quite a difficult budget. Local funds have been under pressure for some time now and this year doesn’t look to be any better. It is likely we will have to go ahead with some rather tough choices. Obviously, we will consult on these between now and the budget meeting in February.
“Some of these things could be taken off the list. That is going to be decision for members to make.”
Oban SNP councillor Julie McKenzie said: “I am speechless this was made public before the opposition councillors had the chance to look at it.
“We, as a council, need to come together and look at more innovative ways of dealing with the cuts that have to be made, that aren’t going to impact on our hard-working and loyal workforce.”
The roads and infrastructure department could lose 14 jobs in cutbacks on road and winter maintenance. This would save £1.37million by merging the roads and amenity teams.
There is a plan to close 36 of the council’s 57 public toilets, and encourage businesses to make their toilets available.
The council is reviewing the support it provides to advice, debt counselling and welfare agencies, considering saving £173,200 over three years.
No longer displaying planning applications in post offices is another money-saving idea, while the four team leadership posts in planning services could be cut to three.
Parking costs would increase, as would charges on the council-run ferry between Islay and Jura.
The cost of hiring sports venues would increase and grass could be cut less often. Education management would lose 24 jobs and the number of janitors would be cut back by 13.5 full-time equivalent posts.
