Waverley Borough Council is set to consider asking some residents to pay a ‘voluntary council tax’ to fund discretionary services.
Officers said the Surrey authority needed to generate extra income if it was to achieve its strategic priorities.
They have advised the council’s executive to ‘take a chance’ and launch a consultation with residents of Band H properties, who pay the highest rate of council tax, to measure support for a voluntary contribution scheme.
At a budget meeting in February, members agreed that Waverley should explore the initiative after it was revealed that the council faced a £15.2m budget gap over the next four years.
Since then, officers have spoken to Westminster City Council, which introduced a voluntary council tax in 2018.
In Westminster, residents are invited to make contributions to a charitable trust set up by the council, generating an additional £300,000 a year.
Officers said Waverley would also need to set up a charity to receive donations.
