A senior councillor fears a campaign to secure more powers for cities in England and Wales could leave Aberdeen behind.
Barney Crockett said the Scottish Government must recognise the oil capital of Europe’s contribution to the wider economy and give the local authority responsibility for keeping some of the money it raises.
The former Aberdeen City Council leader said money generated through stamp duty on house sales could be used to build new affordable homes, while business rates revenue could be used to make the city more attractive to live and work in.
Mr Crockett, a Labour councillor, spoke out after the leaders of 10 core cities including Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow urged the UK Government to devolve powers to them as quickly as possible.
They have warned William Hague, leader of the House of Commons, that voters “will not accept delays” or “half measures” on devolution which must be “enacted at the same speed as the transfer of more powers to Scotland in wake of the independence referendum”.
Campaigners say the UK’s 10 core cities deliver 28% of the English, Welsh and Scottish economies combined and in the future would have to attract more students, improve transport infrastructure and boost capital investment.
The letter states: “These challenges cannot be met by our heavily centralised and over bureaucratic systems of investment and delivery.
“There is now an unquestionable case that it is far more important to have devolution at a much more local level, starting with our great cities, where devolution will result in the greatest benefits in terms of jobs, growth and improved public services.”
Mr Crockett said cities like Aberdeen “wanted to get into the act as well”.
“Aberdeen has a key role and it would be a good thing if we retained money in order to grow the economy and distribute it to poorer areas,” he added.
“This prospectus will overtake devolution but there is a danger that Aberdeen will be left behind.
“My message to the Scottish Government is it must put Scotland’s three key cities at the forefront of everything they are doing.
“They have to take Aberdeen seriously as an economic driver for the nation.”