Opposition councillors will propose raising parking charges to help improve road safety as part of its alternative budget today.
Aberdeenshire Council will discuss draft budget proposals at a meeting at Woodhill House this morning ahead of public consultation next year.
The Democratic Independent and Green Group (Digg) want to put road safety at the top of next year’s budget priorities.
Digg estimates the local authority will need to make up a £10million shortfall to cover its budget for next year, and believes the measure of increasing parking charges will ensure that lives are not put at risk.
Councillor Paul Johnston, a member of the group, said: “Speeding on local roads, and the road safety issues it causes, is a recurring issue.
“With further significant savings required in next year’s budget, there’s going to be no new or spare money for anything.”
He, along with Digg colleague Martin Ford, is now suggesting that the council increases its parking charges to help bridge the funding gap.
Mr Ford said: “With budget cuts unavoidable, what the council has to do is decide on priorities. Should subsidising car parking be a priority? In my view, certainly not, compared with, say, funding for schools.
“So the Digg is keen for the council’s budget consultation to include seeking views on the option of additional funding for traffic calming and speeding reduction measures, this to be paid for by ending the tax-payer subsidy for car parking.
“That would generate £167,000 for enhanced traffic calming provision.
“Other options for increasing funding for traffic calming all mean the council reducing spending on some other activity.”
Council operated car parks have previously generated a surplus income – prior the introduction of free periods in paying car parks two years ago.
Current projections show that without change the facilities will create a deficit of £167,000 this year.
Aberdeenshire Council is scheduled to unveil its revenue budget in February.