Fears that the most vulnerable will bear the brunt of cuts to services in Perth and Kinross were expressed.
Opposition politicians claimed that the financial settlement for local government could lead to “huge job cuts”.
According to Scottish Government figures, money for the area will be reduced by £5.6 million in 2016-17 as a result of John Swinney’s budget.
Putting a brave face on the news was leader of the SNP administration on Perth and Kinross Council, Councillor Ian Miller.
“The imposition of a 3% cut in government funding is not as bad as many had feared,” he said. “It will still be a difficult task to achieve this reduction but, as always, I am confident that we will set a balanced budget on February 11.”
Councillor Peter Barrett, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrat Group on CoSLA was among the harshest critics saying: “Slashing council funding to this extent is completely unjustified and the scale of the cut, at a staggering £350m, goes far beyond the impact of the Westminster spending review.
Mr Barrett has written to Lib Dem Leader Willie Rennie asking him to question the scale of council cuts at Holyrood.
“If the SNP do not change their minds there will be huge job losses,” he said. “Everyone will feel the impact of the cuts, our children’s education and care for the most vulnerable groups in our community will suffer.”
Councillor Archie MacLellan of the Labour group on council said he had “deep concerns” about the impact locally.
“We are still analysing the full impact of the budget on Perth and Kinross but it certainly doesn’t augur well,” he said.
”There will be quite serious cutbacks it would appear that would affect the most vulnerable in the community.”
Conservative councillor Alexander Stewart claimed the budget would have “devastating effects on thousands of frontline services and jobs”.
“It is quite obvious that the Scottish Government is not listening to councils who have been pleading for extra resources to deal with an ageing and growing population,” said Mr Stewart. “This budget hits the old and the vulnerable and has serious consequences for council workforces.”