Flýtilyklar
Icelandic local authorities
Iceland′s local authorities function under the Local Government Act, No. 45/1998. While tasks that the local authorities are required to do by law are defined in various items of separate legislation, the act sets out their rights and obligations. The main principle of local government is autonomy. By law, municipalities have the right to manage their own affairs on their own responsibility.
The number of local authorities areas has fallen recently as they have been combined to form larger administrative units. In the year 2000 the number of municipalities in Iceland was 124 but after the Municipality election in 2006 the number was down to 79. The role of the local authorities has also changed, becoming more complex, now embracing primary schools and social services. All administration of the primary schools was taken over by the local authorities on 1st August 1996, now accounting for the largest single aspect of their work. There are huge disparities in population among local districts. The largest locality, the capital Reykjavík, had in the year 2006 about 108,000 inhabitants, while the smallest municipalities have a population of a few hundred. The habitation of rural districts has been gradually decreasing from the beginning of the 20th century.
In each locality there is a local council, elected by general suffrage. The local council manages the affairs of the locality according to what is further provided for by law. Furthermore, councils have the power to decide the extent to which local sources of income are used, and the discharge of local functions insofar as they are not regulated by statutes. They ensure that legally prescribed local functions are properly discharged, and that the rules governing procedures in matters of local government are observed. The council may further pass resolutions in respect of any matter which in its opinion concerns the locality.
The local council is elected, in a general secret ballot, for a term of four years. Persons entitled to vote in the local elections must have reached the age of 18 when the elections are held, be citizens of Iceland and have legal residence there. Furthermore, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish nationals who meet the above conditions also have the franchise, provided they have been legally resident in Iceland for three years continuously.
The functions of local authorities are provided for in various legislative acts. The most important are as follows: Social welfare and health care, education, culture, sports and outdoor activities. By law, local authorities are also responsible for much of the infrastructure, such as sewage, water supply, electric power and central heating systems. In addition, mention should be made of issues concerning land-use planning and building construction, preparation of general plans and regional plans, implementation of building construction legislation, fire protection and supervision of preventive measures against fire, civil defence and security, waste collection and waste disposal, building and maintenance of buildings, including streets, roads and harbours, public transport, etc.
The main local government revenue sources are twofold: Direct local taxation which consists of personal income tax and real estate tax, and central government grants, both a general block grant and special grants. Local authorities can also raise money through loans to meet capital expenditure. Central government supervision of local government is carried out through the Minister of Social Affairs. Local government in general falls under his jurisdiction.
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