Clarington has six departments: Public Works, Emergency and Fire Services, Legislative Services, Community Services, Planning and Infrastructure Services, and Financial Services the; the departments are overseen by the Chief Administrative Office. Each department prepares a budget for its area of responsibility, based on the past year's spending and forecasting costs for 2024-27. They work to ensure that residents will enjoy either the same level of service, and in some cases, see enhanced services.

The operating budget outlines Clarington's spending plan for the day-to-day cost of the Municipality's programs and services, including fire services, programs, facilities, parks, arenas, road maintenance, staffing, utilities, libraries and much more. It is the equivalent of a household budget for groceries, gas, electricity, and insurance premiums.

In Ontario, municipalities are required by the Municipal Act, 2001 to plan balanced operating budgets—meaning expenses must equal revenues every year and cannot borrow money to fund operating expenses.

The capital budget outlines significant expenditures on the acquisition and replacement of physical assets such as buildings, road repairs, bridges, and vehicles. The operating costs for these assets are included in the operating budget.

In Ontario, municipalities can borrow some funds and run a deficit, within limits, to fund capital projects. For a household, the equivalent would be buying a new car or computer, or building an addition on the house.

Under the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, the Mayor has a duty to propose the Municipality’s budget and present it to Council before February 1. The proposed budget is subject to Council amendments, a Mayoral veto, and a Council override process; each step is subject to a limited number of calendar days. After that has passed, the proposed budget is deemed to have been adopted by Council.

A municipality can choose to prepare a budget covering one to five years. Clarington is preparing a four-year budget. Rather than preparing an annual budget, Council will review and adopt a budget for the next four years. To remain flexible and to adapt with changing needs, the budget will be reevaluated annually by Council.

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) is responsible for assessing and classifying more than five million properties in Ontario. Every year, MPAC provides municipalities with an assessment roll to be used for taxation purposes. If you have questions about your assessment, call MPAC at 1-866-296-6722 or visit the MPAC website. For property-specific inquiries, visit the About My Property section to view information on your property, access your property assessment notice, and compare your property to others. If you disagree with your assessment, you can file a Request for Reconsideration (deadlines applicable).