Aberdeenshire Council launches survey on budget ideas including 20% hike in council tax
Aberdeenshire Council is asking residents to have their say on potential budget ideas such as cutting school staff, ending flood protection activity and a 20 per cent council tax hike.
The local authority has launched an online survey that focuses on services it is considering changing, reducing or ending.
Council chiefs are keen to hear from those living in the region as it is currently expected to be £26 million over budget.
This financial year, Aberdeenshire Council spent around £750m delivering services.
It also set aside £95m to invest in its infrastructure, schools, buildings, roads and IT services.
However, it is under increasing financial pressure as costs are rising and demand is growing.
Those keen to take part in the survey will be met with a number of questions and asked to rank matters from most to least important.
Participants can also leave additional comments for the council to consider as part of the wider budget setting process.
Residents will be asked to rank the proposals the council should focus on most.
The survey includes areas such as reducing the capital plan, staffing and changes to how the council operates.
Participants will be asked to share their thoughts on potential changes to the Aberdeenshire school estate.
These include the removal of extra staff in both primary and secondary schools that were initially put in place to help following the pandemic.
Teachers are currently allocated to primary schools based on the number of pupils expected to be there at the start of the school year.
However, if numbers are lower than anticipated, some schools could cut down on the number of classes after the October break.
Another possible change could see early learning and childcare provision removed from council settings where there is capacity elsewhere locally.
A further blow to ELC could see the number of settings reduced over the school holidays.
A number of proposals are based around the local authority’s infrastructure services.
The council could stop all of its flood protection activity – with communities asked to develop their own instead.
Street lights in residential areas could only be switched on in the darkest winter months, while sandbags and grit bins might stop being provided.
Residents may be forced to buy their own compostable bin bags as the council could quit handing them out for free.
Meanwhile, half of the bus routes currently supported by Aberdeenshire Council are under threat.
Cost-cutting measures here include temporarily closing under-used venues and pavilions during the winter months.
It is exploring new delivery models for Macduff Marine Aquarium, Stonehaven Open Air Pool and Alford Ski Centre.
And it could put fixed times, programmed and timetables across all of its leisure venues, while prices and memberships would be reviewed.
A link will also be provided for residents to share their views on the delivery of Health and Social Care services across the region.
Aberdeenshire Council is also consider increasing its council tax to help with its budget woes.
As part of the survey, residents will be asked how much they would be willing to pay to protect vital services.
A five per cent rise for an average Band D property would equate to an extra £6.97 per month.
This would generate £8.419m for the council but “significant” savings would still be needed.
However, using the same household example, a proposed 20 per cent council tax hike would result in a monthly increase of £27.87.
If this was the preferred option, it would see the local authority take in £33.712m and there would be no need for savings elsewhere.
In fact, the council would have extra cash to invest in other high priority areas.
Aberdeenshire Council leader Gillian Owen urged residents to use this opportunity to let the local authority know what they think.
She said: “The impact from inflation, pay awards, construction costs and the cost-of-living crisis all continue to impact on the council as much as they are impacting household budgets.
“We no longer have enough money to do the things we did five or even 10 years ago and we need to change.”
She added: “With the limited resources it is clear we can no longer afford the current level of public services so we either need to stop some services or they need to be done differently.
“What services matter most to you, what should we protect, and in protecting those things what can we realistically stop?”
The budget survey is available online and paper copies can be found in libraries or service points across the region.
