Bury Council has warned ‘tough decisions’ will have to be made to close its budget shortfall of £35m.
The council will discuss proposals for closing the budget gap, including dimming street lights by 50% and introducing charges at up to 40 currently free car parks.
It estimates these measures will save the council £9.4m.
Cllr Sean Thorpe, cabinet member for Finance, said: ‘This is being caused by insufficient funding, huge increases in costs, and an ever-increasing demand for services, particularly in adults’ and children’s social care which together take up nearly three quarters of the council’s budget.
‘We are in the bottom 20% for council funding, and our spending power in real terms has been slashed over the past decade. This has left us to find £150m in savings over that period.’
He added: 'As in previous years, we will have to use reserves to shore up the budget and keep services going, but you can only do this for so long.’
Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, leader of the council, commented: ‘The immediate challenge is getting the money we need to run the essential day-to-day services that people rely on.
‘We will do everything we can to keep those services going, but this will involve some very tough decisions, and we have to set a legal budget next March.’
