Yerushalmi Shekalim 10 talks about how government worked – and still works!
At some point cohanim gedolim would rebuild new expensive ramp for the para adumah and not use the one from the previous guy. Think Tappan Zee => Cuomo bridge
There were funds left over at beit hamikdash at the end of the year that they struggled to spend on something kodesh – golden plating, utensils. Nowadays, they often buy comfortable chairs with “end of year” funds.