It has suggested the government’s list should be scrapped and, if not, expanded.
Museums were on the list, but art galleries were not, the council noted.
Regulatory services such as building consents, dog registrations and parking enforcement were not included.
Cemeteries, economic development initiatives and mitigation of natural hazards were absent from the list as well, the council pointed out.
"If there is going to be a list of core services, then it needs to be wider than the present list and genuinely reflect what are core services," the council said.
"For example, regulatory services are undoubtedly a core service for a local authority."
The council this week approved a submission to Parliament’s governance and administration select committee about the Local Government (System Improvement) Amendment Bill.
Objectives of the Bill include reducing pressure on council rates by refocusing the purpose of local government, measuring council performance, prioritising core services in council spending and reducing regulatory costs for councils.
It was acknowledged in the Bill rates rises were being driven primarily by rising council costs, particularly for critical infrastructure.
However, the government was also concerned about "lack of financial discipline among councils", including from "spending on activities that stray from core services".
The Dunedin City Council was worried narrowing the role of councils might be detrimental to communities.
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich said the Bill was a deliberate attempt to disempower councils.
Referring to the government’s emphasis on economic wellbeing, Mr Radich said there was more to a city than "a dollar figure that some remote authority decides".
Cr Jim O’Malley said there was no point in councils having elections if central government was just going to tell them what to do.
Someone living in Auckland or Wellington deciding what Dunedin people wanted for their city was quite absurd, he said.
Cr Carmen Houlahan said it might be best if central government stayed out of local government’s business.
She was worried about the government getting in the way of councils listening and responding to their people.
Cr Steve Walker said the council’s 2025-34 long-term plan showed it was focused on core services already.
Cr Sophie Barker said the Bill was an ironic assault on liberal democracy after parties now in government had campaigned for localism.
The government seemed to lack understanding about what councils did, she said.
Cr Barker said the council had often been left to pick up the pieces after decision-making by central government.
