Local government is the government that works. It brings the clean water to the homes and takes the dirty water away. Residents can put garbage out on the curb in the morning and be assured it will be gone when they come home at night. These, and many more services, are provided and relied on almost without thought. The development of a sense of community is an often-overlooked role of local government.
People like to belong.
Preserving an existing community or building a new sense of community is in many ways as important as the services provided. People's identities are tied to where they are from. One role of local officials is to make that place special. This is the reason festivals, town days and community events are held. Arts councils and youth recreation leagues are not a waste of time and money.