To provide the many services that we all use, Councils need money. Councils have to buy machines and vehicles, materials to build roads and bridges, books for libraries and vaccines for health centres. It costs money to maintain parks and swimming pools. Councils must also pay staff, including administration and clerical staff, environmental officers, drivers, maintenance workers, youth workers, inspectors, engineers, planners and library staff.

Councils with large populations may have budgets worth millions of dollars every year. Smaller Councils will have less money to spend. Some councils work cooperatively with neighbouring councils to share staff and resources.

Councils receive 4 main sources of income to provide services to their communities: rates, fees and fines, grants and subsidies, and loans.