The amount of unpaid council tax Perth and Kinross Council is chasing through the courts has tripled over 10 years to nearly £3.5 million.
During the last decade the amount of council tax owed in the region has risen from £958,000 to £3,583,000 last financial year.
The largest leap occurred between 2012/13 and 2013/14 when the amount owed increased by £860,000 to £3,425,639.
In the past 12 months a further £157,364 arrears has been added to the debt.
And since 2010-11 the council haswritten off more than £3m in council tax.
Councillors have claimed the debts are having a major impact on the local authority’s ability to deliver much-needed services.
Kinross-shire Liberal Democratcouncillor Willie Robertson said: “The non-payment of council tax makes itdifficult for councils to deliver theservices people depend on. It is always those most in need who suffer from cuts in council services.
“Perth and Kinross Council has a good record of recovering council tax. Non-collection is often due to the council being unable to trace the person in arrears.
“Where there are understandable reasons for non-payment the council should agree a repayment scheme.”
Last year the council issued 28,581 first reminders and 5,334 second reminders to those who had failed to pay.
There were also 4,511 first reminders and 41 second reminders sent in respect of council tax owed for previous financial years between 1993/94 and 2013/14.
The number of bailiff visits carried out by debt collection company Stirling Park, who collect arrears on behalf of the council, increased from 1,677 in 2012/13 to 4,215 in 2014/15.
A council spokesman said: “We maintain a record of outstanding council tax debt for each year in which it was due and will continue to pursue the recovery of this.
“We are continuing to receiveoutstanding money through repayment arrangements and by tracing debtors on a regular basis.
“Between April 1 2014 and March 9 2015 we have recovered outstanding council tax owed since 1993/94.
“Perth and Kinross Council isnever complacent about recoveringoutstanding council tax. Our council tax collection rate in recent years hascontinued to be ranked amongst the highest in Scotland.”
The director of Shelter Scotland, Graeme Brown, said: “A perfect storm of stagnant wages, high housing costs and welfare reforms means that thousands of families and individuals acrossScotland are facing tough decisions every day about how they spend the little money they have.
“While people need to pay theircouncil tax, for those who are struggling, help is available.”
For advice, call 0808 800 4444 or visit www.shelterscotland.org.