Core services are the fundamental functions municipalities must provide to meet basic community needs—typically including water and wastewater, roads and transportation, emergency services (fire, police), waste management, and land use planning. While definitions vary, core services represent the essential minimum that residents expect and legislation often requires. Discussions about core services arise during budget pressures when councils must decide what to protect versus what can be reduced. The concept helps prioritize during fiscal constraints but can be contested—some argue recreation or transit are core services while others consider them discretionary. Core service delivery is often a condition for municipal viability assessments.