Around 200 jobs could be cut at Perth and Kinross Council over three years as the cash-strapped local authority tries to close a £31 million funding gap.
The shock proposals - which councillors are still to make a decision on - include cutting 45 full-time equivalent posts this year and between 70 and 80 in each of the following two years.
While teaching jobs are protected, schools could be among the hardest hit as the proposed cuts also include removing all school crossing patrollers, stopping primary swimming lessons, closing breakfast clubs and raising the price of school meals.
Closing public toilets and raising the cost of funerals has also been suggested.
In September 2022 councillors agreed a council tax increase of three per cent, which works out at an additional 78p a week for a Band D property.
As wages make up a significant part of the council’s spending, job cuts have been proposed.
A PKC spokesperson said: "Officers have been at pains to minimise this as far as possible, with fewer than 45 full time equivalent jobs at risk in the next financial year and between 70 and 80 in each of the subsequent years, protecting around 97 per cent of the existing workforce."
Officials are also proposing to capitalise on grief with funeral costs set to rocket.
The cost to cremate an adult over the age of 21 is proposed to rise from £709 to £836. The council is also proposing to introduce a £60 charge for the use of a webcam and a £24 charge for a webcam recording - a budget proposal which was previously rejected by councillors.
Graves would also increase in price from £934 to £962 for a full adult lair and £467 to £481 for a half lair. The cost to bury a loved one could increase from £974 to £1003.
And residents caught short when out and about could be in a wee spot of bother. Council chiefs have proposed closing all PKC's attended toilets except Pitlochry and Dunkeld. This would mean the closure of facilities at Blairgowrie, Auchterarder, Crieff and Perth's South Inch Car Park. Comfort schemes would be provided instead. Another saving proposed is to no longer fund the provision of mobile toilets at community and public events instead asking community organisations to provide them.
These are just some of the recommendations proposed.
A cost of living crisis, climate and biodiversity crises, a growing inequalities gap and demographic changes have all led to the difficult choices facing councillors. They will meet on Wednesday to agree whether or not to accept or reject officers' proposals as they set the capital and revenue budgets for 2023/24 and indicative budgets for the following two years.
Over 1,000 people took the opportunity to share their views on PKC's new corporate priorities and what areas should be prioritised. The cost of living, education, climate change and social care were the top four areas where residents wanted to see investment.
The seven priorities of PKC's Corporate Plan for 2022-2027 are:
- Working in partnership with communities
- Tackling poverty
- Tackling climate change and supporting sustainable places
- Developing a resilient, stronger and greener local economy
- Enabling our children and young people to achieve their full potential
- Protecting and caring for our most vulnerable people
- Supporting and promoting physical and mental wellbeing
PKC chief executive Thomas Glen said: "As public servants, none of us want to be in this position where we are putting forward budget proposals which include any workforce reductions or cuts to services that we know local residents appreciate. But, the scale of the financial challenge we face means that difficult choices have to be put forward for consideration by councillors.
"At the same time we have done everything we can to protect jobs for the staff who work in and serve our communities and to prioritise services which help the most vulnerable in our communities.
"Ultimately it will be for councillors, having had access to all the facts and the full report into the feedback received from communities, to focus on the priorities they have already set in the Corporate Plan. They will decide whether the proposals from officers should go ahead or how else the budget should be balanced."
