Some “valued” services are facing the axe as Argyll and Bute Council announced it expects to make savings of £9.2 million in the next financial year.
The savings options highlighted in papers for Thursday’s council meeting include a jobs cut of 58.5 full time equivalent posts in 2020/21.
A cut of £198,500 would see the removal of pupil support assistant hours in primary schools with the loss of nearly 15 jobs.
Up to 25 public conveniences could close while burial charges could go up by as much as 20 per cent and cremation fees 15 per cent.
The removal of seven school crossing patrollers at 21 crossing points operated by the council is another option being put forward, as is the reduction of the education management team.
Another plan to save £19,300 is the removal of subsidies to the Islay and Jura and Mid Argyll swimming pools.
Activities provided for people with Additional Support Needs would receive a cut of £5,400.
Council Leader, Councillor Aileen Morton said: “There are no easy options left for making more savings. We’ve delivered £57million in savings since 2010, we’ve had the third highest cut in funding of all of Scotland’s councils in recent years, and estimates show we will have to deliver another £9.2 million of savings next year.
“The scale of the savings potentially required means that all options open to councils to take must be explored and identified, including some of the most valued services – the services which, if things were different, we would like to protect and grow.
“The majority of the council’s funding comes from the Scottish Government. As we don’t expect to know until January next year exactly how much funding this council will get for next year, we have to identify as many savings options as possible just now so we can deliver a balanced budget in February.”
She added: “We recently secured a rural growth deal of £50million for Argyll and Bute. While this is great news, this one off funding cannot be used to bridge gaps in our budget; it must be used to deliver specific economic development objectives to be agreed with the UK and Scottish Governments.”
Depute Council Leader and Policy Lead for Strategic Finance, Councillor Gary Mulvaney, said: “A number of options open to the council to take are outlined in the reports. More must be found before council meets to set its budget in February, and our officers will continue to explore where further savings could be found.”
If agreed at full council on Thursday, the authority will run a consultation asking local residents for their views on service priorities.
