Aberdeenshire Council faces tough budget decisions, with potential winners and losers as funding issues loom large
That means the total overspend could hit around £18 million. Yikes! Last year was tough, but this year feels even tougher. They had a £35.45 million gap last year, and now they’re in a similar boat.
Cuts were made last year, like getting rid of school crossing guards and closing service points. But now, they’re back at it with fewer options. Gillian mentioned that finding £66 million is hard enough, but needing £40-50 million more makes it even trickier.
They’ve had to tighten their belts, asking teams to only spend on essentials. Even small things, like gifts for milestone birthdays, have been cut. But hey, they saved £4.2 million since November. Still, Gillian warns they’re not out of the woods yet.
On a brighter note, Aberdeenshire is getting more help from the Scottish Government than expected. But it’s not all good news. Much of that money is tied up in specific spending.
Gillian pointed out that Aberdeenshire is one of the most underfunded councils in Scotland. If they got the average funding, they could wipe out their deficit. But she’s clear: there will be winners and losers in this budget.
She said, “Things are tough, and I suspect it will remain that way for quite some time.” The council is also not planning to raise council tax by 20%, which is a relief.
They’re still figuring out the tax level, and feedback from residents will help. So far, 54% of people said they could handle a 5% rise. The council will discuss the budget on February 20.
