I remember reading in one of the Republic Commando books about Besany Wessen doing some investigating within the Treasury, but don't remember it ever leading to anything except the Skirata Clan discovering some information about the Republic having fronts for using/moving money around. Is it ever mentioned where Palpatine received the funding to create and build an army? I can't imagine the Supreme Chancellor paying for an entire army with just his salary...
Answer
This is dealt with in the EU novel "Labyrinth of Evil". Master Sifo-Dyas commissioned the Clone Army, presumably with a small down-payment and a blank cheque from the Jedi's own accounts.
Count Dooku (with the assistance of Senator, then Chancellor Palpatine) kitted the army out with fancy hardware and big ships using his own vast personal wealth and any other cash he could lay his hands on:
“Questioned, the Kaminoans were. Furnished much they did.”
“Did they?” Obi-Wan said in surprise. “When?”
“Reticent they were when first to Kamino I went. Only what already they had told you, I heard. That Sifo-Dyas the order placed; that Tyranus the donor clone furnished. That for the Republic the clones were. Seen by the Kaminoans, neither Sifo-Dyas nor Tyranus was. But later, after attacked Kamino was, more I learned from Taun We and Ko Sai. About the payments.”
“From Sifo-Dyas?”
“From Tyranus.”
Although the book isn't G-canon, it's noteworthy that the final 3 episodes of season 3 of Clone Wars were based on this novel.
As to how Dooku/Palpatine/The Republic/The Jedi were able to afford to create a enormous clone army, it would seem to boil down to a range of payments being sourced from a variety of places:
Dooku's vast personal fortune
Funds skimmed from the Republic's budget by Palpatine
Money taken from the Jedi budget by Sifo-Dias.
Money appropriated from the Trade Federation by Dooku
Sith funds.
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