LOCAL AND REGIONAL STRUCTURES IN FINLAND
Finland is a unitary state composed of municipalities (kunta) and regions (maakunnan liitto).
Local level: 342 municipalities (kunta)
Municipal authorities
The municipal council (kunnanvaltuusto) is composed of members elected every four years at the proportional representation system. This deliberative body appoints the executive board and the mayor.
The executive board (kunnanhallitus) is composed of members appointed by the municipal council. It is responsible for running the municipal administration and for its finances. The executive board is assisted by sector-based committees.
The mayor (or municipal manager) is elected by the municipal council. (S)he can be elected for an indefinite or fixed term of office. This local government officer heads the administration and prepares the decisions to be adopted by the executive board.
Municipal competences
. Health care (primary and secondary, dental services)
. Social services (child day care, services for the aged and the disabled)
. Education (pre-school, primary, secondary, vocational training, adult education, libraries)
. Culture, leisure, sport
. Land use planning and supervision of building
. Building and maintenance of the technical infrastructure and the environment, (streets, energy management, water and sewage works, waste management, harbours, public transport)
. promotion of business and employment
. Independent taxation right and finances (approximately 80 % of local expenditures are financed by revenue from local income tax, share of corporate income tax , real estate tax and charges)
Regional level: 20 regions (maakunnan liitto)
Regional authorities
The regional council is a statutory joint local authority. It is composed of members elected by the municipalities of the region and is supported in its tasks by a civil service.
Competences
. Regional development and policies
. Regional planning
. Preparation and execution of programmes co-financed by the Structural Funds
Note: The Act on Regional Self-Government Experiment in Kainuu introduced a Regional Council elected by a direct ballot (2005) and widened the responsibility of the Kainuu Region to include social and welfare and health care services and a partial responsibility for education.
Note: There is one autonomous region: Aaland. Aaland has an autonomous government (Landskapsstyrelse), an administration as well as a legislative assembly (Lagting) elected by universal suffrage. Its competences include education and culture, police, health, social affairs, employment.
Regional State Administrative Agencies (aluehallintovirasto)
The six agencies foster regional parity by executing all legislative implementation, steering and supervision functions in the regions. The agencies strengthen implementation of basic rights and legal protection, access to basic public services, environmental protection, environmental sustainability, public safety and a safe and healthy living and working environment in the regions. The agencies work in close collaboration with local authorities.
Areas of responsibility
. Base public services, legal rights and permits
. Occupational safety and health
. Environmental permits
. Fire and rescue services and preparedness
. Police
Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus)
The 15 centres foster regional development by implementing and developing government activities in the regions. They promote entrepreneurship, functioning of labour market, competence and cultural activities. They ensure safe and smooth transport operations, healthy environment and sustainable use of natural resources in the regions and are in charge of functions related to immigration of labour force.
Areas of responsibility
.Economic development, labour force, competence and cultural activities
.Transport and infrastructure
.The environment and natural resources
The division of regional state administrative agencies and centres for economic development, transport and environment is based on regional borders and they follow the borders of regions or are their multiples (kerrannainen).
