The vast majority of local authorities expect to freeze council tax when budgets are set later this month, according to a BBC Scotland survey. A total of 24 of Scotland's 32 council leaders said bills would "definitely" or "almost definitely" stay the same in their area.
None of the 28 leaders who responded completely ruled out a freeze.
Council umbrella group Cosla said some local authorities may still be "struggling" with the idea.
However, several councils have seen the course of action as the only option - either they use the cash the Scottish Government is offering to cap council tax or they will lose it.
Budget votes
The council leaders, surveyed on 31 January and 1 February, were asked if there would be a tax freeze in their area in 2008-09.
A total of 10 said "definitely", 14 said "almost definitely" and four said "probably".
None of the leaders said they would "probably not", "almost definitely not" or "definitely not" opt for a freeze.
Local authorities are due to vote for their budgets between the middle and end of February.
Councils which gave attributable responses to the survey were:
"DEFINITELY"
- Edinburgh City
- Clackmannanshire
- East Renfrewshire
- South Lanarkshire
- West Lothian
- West Dunbartonshire
- Scottish Borders
"ALMOST DEFINITELY"
- Fife
- Highland
- Orkney
- Perth and Kinross
- Shetland
"PROBABLY"
- Aberdeenshire
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