Local government "spin" shows no sign of slowing, with West Midlands councils spending £45 million a year on communications and publicising themselves - according to a new survey.
The TaxPayers' Alliance used Freedom of Information legislation to discover for the first time the cost of public relations units and press office teams.
Councils throughout the region increased their publicity budgets by 75 per cent above the rate of inflation during the period 1996 to 2006.
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Birmingham City Council topped the list, spending more on publicity than any other local authority in Britain.
The city's publicity budget grew from £7 million in 1996 to £10.3 million last year, an increase of 50 per cent.
After adjusting the figures to reflect the size of population, Birmingham is the eighth-highest publicity spender in the 海角视频.
The biggest percentage increase among metropolitan authorities saw Dudley Council's spend jump to £2.6 million, up by 435 per cent.
South Shropshire Council registered a 1,165 per cent increase, from £11,221 to £142,000.
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West Midlands shire counties were responsible for some of the largest increases.
In 1996, Warwickshire spent £639,000 on self-promotion. By 2006, the figure had soared by 275 per cent to £2.4 million.
Shropshire registered a 327 per cent rise, to £1.2 million. Staffordshire's costs were up by 190 per cent, to £2.4 million.
Worcestershire County Council had no publicity budget in 1996, but by 2006 was spending £4 million a year.
The average publicity spend for all 450 海角视频 councils was £985,000 - double the amount in 1996.
A city council spokesman said Birmingham's costs were less in real terms than many other authorities: "As the largest local authority in Europe, with a population of over one million people, Birmingham is significantly larger than all other authorities on the TaxPayers' Alliance list, and is actually spending less per head on publicity, including recruitment advertising, than most of the other listed councils.
"It is also worth noting that our percentage increase on expenditure over the past 10 years is the lowest among any of the top 20 authorities on the list."
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A spokesman for Dudley Council said increase spending helped it "communicate more effectively" with residents and employees.
David Smith, the leader of Lichfield District Council and chairman of the West Midlands Local Government Association, said local authorities were under Government orders to publish briefing information for council tax payers once a quarter.
He added: "You are wrong whichever way you go. If you keep the public in blissful ignorance and don't spend anything on keeping them informed, or if you do the job properly and publicise what you are doing.
TaxPayers' Alliance chief executive Matthew Elliott said he doubted the money was being spent wisely.
Mr Elliott added: "It is important for council taxpayers to see just how their hard-earned money is being spent by town halls.
"With council tax doubling in the past decade, it is extremely disappointing that councils have chosen to double their publicity budgets over the same period.
"With the internet cutting the cost of communication, it shouldn't be difficult for local authorities to find savings in this area and bring council tax down."
Fiona McAvoy, TaxPayers' Alliance spokeswoman for the West Midlands, said: "These are huge increases for which there would appear to be little justification. "It is particularly disappointing to see smaller councils falling into line by copying large authorities."