Renfrewshire Council is facing "difficult choices" in the years ahead as attempts are made to plug a budget black hole of some £35million.
The seriousness of the situation has been laid bare in a report setting out the grim financial picture for the local authority ahead of Thursday's meeting.
A paper authored by finance director Alastair MacArthur has warned of the "rapidly increasing levels of risk" on the horizon, which place the council's stability "under much greater pressure" than that of the last decade.
The document is a follow-up to one published at the end of June, which first highlighted the eye-watering level of savings required to close an estimated gap of £31m in the next three years.
However, the position has deteriorated even further in just under three months, with that forecast extending to a deficit of £35m over the same period.
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Council leader Iain Nicolson said: "As a council, we’re responsible for delivering a wide range of vital public services that support those most in need, help look after our local environment and support our local communities at a time when people need our services more than ever.
"But now like many households, we are now finding our costs are increasing significantly, through inflation, energy and fuel costs and increased costs for materials and supplies.
"This is going to mean we will need to make some difficult choices in the next few years to protect priority services, listening to what people have told us matters to them most."
According to the local authority, it has a current budget of around £480m, with 80 per cent provided from Scottish Government grant and the remaining 20 per cent raised through council tax.
Around two thirds of current spending is committed to running its schools, looking after the most vulnerable and adult and children’s services, while the remaining third is allocated for growing the economy and services such as waste collection, street cleaning and lighting, roads and parks and ensuring safe and clean neighbourhoods.
The latest report, which will be considered by councillors on Thursday, also confirmed that work is under way to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
Councillor Nicolson added: "Things have been tough for people over recent years and as an administration, helping people with the cost of living is our priority.
"We also want to support local businesses as we emerge from the pandemic and ensure we help create the conditions that make Renfrewshire a great place to live, work and visit.
"Public finances are limited and it's clear we will have to work differently in the future.
"We will listen to what communities and businesses have told us and work closely with them over the coming years to invest in a Renfrewshire to be proud in."
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