GLASGOW City Council is facing some tough decisions in the next month.

Every year, despite what government says, the council faces a shortfall in cash and this year is no different.

Except this year is different and so are those into the foreseeable future.

The Equal pay settlement which will cost the city around £500m in pay outs to women who for years were paid less than men in comparable roles, will now have to be budgeted for.

The pay outs will be made in the next financial year which starts in April, but likely to be many months later before anyone sees their bank account swell with the cash they were due long ago.

But the cash to fund the mechanism for paying out, through selling and leasing back council assets, like the royal Concert Hall and Emirates Arena will come out of the council budget.

It is looking like meaning something between £60m and £80m shortfall this coming year depending on what Derek Mackay’s budget yesterday means for the council coffers.

Mr Mackay says his budget gives councils more cash to spend but others disagree.

It’s not the sort of cash that can be found by shaving a few pounds here and there from council departments.

The council will be able to raise the council tax by 4.7%, but that won’t bring in that much and that will be swallowed up trying to maintain current services.

Campaigners are fighting to keep their local swimming pools in Drumchapel and Dennistoun open.

Closing swimming pools would certainly be a retrograde step given the need to improve health and get children active.

Other possibilities mentioned have been closing golf courses in the city, charging for bulk uplifts and pest control.

Again closing community facilities will be unpopular and any new charges won’t go down well.

But the fact facing the City Treasurer, Allan Gow, is the Equal Pay settlement has to be honoured and cash has to be found to pay the borrowing to fund it.

Bumping up parking charges won’t do it, an extra few pounds on leisure centre charges won’t do it.

Something has to give.

Added to that, there is a minority council administration so the SNP need to get the support of one of the other parties in the chamber.

Like Derek Mackay at Holyrood they may look to the Greens in the City Chambers, who similarly will want something in return.

Whatever he proposes there will be opposition from somewhere, and no doubt there will be the opportunity for political games.

Expect council tax to be raised by the maximum allowed. Expect charges for services to rise and expect cuts to services yet again.

Most of the cash for the council comes from the Scottish government.

It has protected other services in the past, notably health and education and rightly so.

But for years councils, like Glasgow have been cut and this year is no different.

Even if they were staying static it does nothing to address the years of savage cuts.

Now more than ever Glasgow needs a good deal from the Scottish Government.

Derek Mackay’s budget is not yet passed, and there is still time to give the services delivered by councils the resources they deserve.