CASH-strapped Municipal Buildings chiefs are owed more than £6 MILLION in unpaid council tax, a Telegraph investigation has revealed.

The huge black hole missing millions sum has been accumulated over the course of the last five years.

The news comes six months after spending cuts totalling £4m - including the loss of 15 jobs - were finalised by Inverclyde Council.

Approved efficiency savings last December also included a 50 per cent cut to the council's pothole budget.

Council leader Stephen McCabe said at the time: "There's absolutely no doubt about it, every aspect of our life will be affected by these savings."

A Freedom of Information probe by the Telegraph has further revealed that among those failing to pay their council tax are local authority employees.

Meanwhile, more than 5,000 people across the district - which has a population of around 76,000 - are in council tax arrears.

A total of £6,105,657 worth of council tax has gone unpaid in Inverclyde since 2018.

Greenock Telegraph: SAVINGS: Inverclyde Council will have to reduce its budget further.

The amounts have risen year-on-year from £747,850 in 2018 to a total of £1,816,260 in 2022.

Greenock owes the most in council tax at £3,837,839, followed by Port Glasgow at £1,425,05.29; Gourock, £507,061; Kilmacolm, £138,846; Inverkip, £92,016; Wemyss Bay, £51,796; Bridge of Weir, £46,187; Langbank, £6,858.

The number of people in arrears in 2018 stood at 2,770. The figure now is 5,387. Greenock has more than 3,000 accounts in arrears.

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The number of local authority workers who have failed to pay their council tax bill has almost doubled over the last five years, from 41 in 2018 to 78 in 2022.

Council officials told the Policy and Resources Committee last month that collection rates were at their highest level ever.

A report to the committe stated: "The level of Council Tax collected in 2022-23 was the highest ever collection 'in-year' at 95.9%. Collection was assisted by credits of the Scottish Government £150 and the Inverclyde Council Cost £350 Cost of Living Award 15% of households that did not opt for the sum to be paid into a bank account."

A council spokesperson said: “We continue to focus on the recovery of Council Tax with the in-year collection in 2022/23 being the highest ever recorded at 95.9 per cent and ultimate collection rates regularly above 97 per cent, which is comparable with many other areas which do not face the same economic challenges.

“Council Tax pays for vital services relied upon by our local communities and we will continue to work towards maximising the collection of all sums due and provide support to people to meet their obligations.”