Aberdeenshire Council leader Jim Gifford has written to the Finance Secretary Derek Mackay to urge him to prioritise local authority funding in the upcoming budget.
The Scottish Government will set its budget for 2019/20 next month.
Mr Gifford and his Conservative/Lib Dem/Independent coalition have now written to Mr Mackay demanding a fair share of funding for Aberdeenshire, as well as for councils across Scotland to be made a priority.
In their letter, the leaders of each group admit there is a “huge backlog of road repairs, building repairs and maintenance” and claim they are “long overdue” making “significant investment” in sports, leisure and cultural facilities across the region.
Mid-Formartine councillor Mr Gifford said: “We are the third-worst funded council in Scotland and getting our fair share of the budget would put us in a position of being able to invest in our council facilities and services rather than looking at cutting our budget yet again.”
Deputy leader Peter Argyle added: “The UK budget a few weeks ago is going to give Scotland an extra £679million of revenue funding and £436million of capital funding next year.
“For many years, Derek MacKay and his predecessor has prioritised spending on the police and NHS and we are very politely suggesting that it is maybe time for all the councils in Scotland to be made his priority.”
Councillor Norman Smith, co-ordinator of the aligned Independents in the administration warned that years of budget cuts have “taken a real toll” on council services and facilities.
He said: “We need additional funding to support and improve the day-to-day services that everyone needs and expects.
“We also need additional capital allocations so we can invest in our buildings and facilities.
“Councils need that commitment from the Scottish Government so that we can support and build on the fantastic investment from the private and public sectors that has happened in the north-east over the past few years.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said that despite cuts they have treated local government “very fairly”.
He said: “In 2018-2019, councils will receive funding through the local government finance settlement of £10.7billion.
“This will provide a real terms boost in both revenue and capital funding.
“Aberdeenshire Council will receive £454.7million in local government funding in 2018-19.
“Taken together with the council’s decision to increase council tax by 3%, Aberdeenshire Council will have an additional £19.2 million to support services compared to 2017-18.”
