Fewer than 20 people took part in an online debate on a possible council tax rise in Fife.
Council leader David Ross had invited locals to take part in a live chat on Facebook to discuss the pros and cons of such a move as the local authority faces up to unprecedented budget cuts over the next three years.
Council tax was the first of a number of big questions to be explored by Mr Ross as part of the “Let’s talk change” consultation aimed at encouraging people to make suggestions as to how £91 million of savings can be made.
A variety of views were expressed with postman Gary Haldane claiming the council tax freeze had a “stranglehold over local councils’ ability to provide proper meaningful services”.
Mr Ross said he had some sympathy with that view and added: “I believe local councils should have more control over the money they raise to provide services.”
He said he would be interested to hear how much more people would be prepared to pay.
The opposite opinion was expressed by retired businessman Alastair Beveridge who suggested that rather than raising council tax, the local authority should instead cut some of the top layer of management.
Mr Ross responded: “Since April 2010 the council’s workforce has reduced by over 11% and we have around 300 fewer managers a saving of over £13 million to the council.”
Others said there should be a complete review of the way local services are paid for across Scotland.
Fife Council’s Labour administration has suggested a 7.5% rise in council tax in April to mitigate Holyrood funding cuts announced before Christmas.
Even with a £4.6m penalty imposed by the Scottish Government for raising the tax, it would still mean a £7m boost for Fife’s public purse.
Other suggestions under consideration include cutting the length of the working day and a review of every single service apart from social care.