Calls have been made for a “grown-up discussion” on the financial crisis facing Fife Council after claims of a “betrayal of promises”.
The local authority is facing an unprecedented cut of more than £92 million in its budget over the next four years.
On Tuesday, Fife Council’s Labour administration leader Alex Rowley called for cross-party support as he proposed a budget he said will drive forward investment in some of Fife’s most deprived communities and lessen the impact of potential service cuts.
There are around 700 jobs in Fife Council potentially at risk over the next three years as it tries to balance the books.
SNP group leader Peter Grant said the budget proposal and proposed job losses were a “betrayal of their promises” at the last election when, he said, Labour there would be no job cuts.
Labour finance spokeswoman Councillor Linda Erskine said: “In Fife, the level of our budget is in the main controlled by the Scottish government, who have decided to make local councils take a larger share of the austerity measures than any other part of the Scottish budget.
“Now, we could behave like the SNP in Fife and issue ranting statements calling the SNP in Edinburgh all kinds of names and accusing them of ‘betrayal and dishonesty’ but we don’t for we believe the people of Fife deserve better.
“We have brought forward a carefully worked-out plan which begins to address the budget gap for the next four years.
“It does this whilst putting money into a range of areas which will support education, sport and leisure, invest in local facilities and community organisations and focus on reducing the growing demand for services in areas like children and families.
“The SNP in Fife need to stop the name calling and tell us how they would balance the books over the next four years.
“The message I get from the people of Fife is they are fed up of Punch And Judy politics and expect their politicians to tell it as it is and focus on finding solutions.”