LOCAL STRUCTURES IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is a unitary state composed of municipalities (opstina).
Local level: 84 municipalities (opstina) and the capital City of Skopje
Local authorities
The municipal council (sovet na opstinata) is elected by direct universal suffrage for a period of four years. The number of municipal councillors is determined by law and depends on the demographic size of the municipality.
The mayor (gradonacalnik) is the municipality's executive body and is elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year mandate. He/she executes decisions made by the municipal council and submits draft municipal acts to the council. The mayor represents the municipality, acts on its behalf and is responsible for the organisation, performance, quality of services and responsibilities of its administration.
Note
The country's capital, the City of Skopje, is a special unit of local self–government made up of ten independent municipalities. The capital's independent municipalities have individual competences, some of which are shared with the City of Skopje, and which sets them apart from the country's remaining 74 municipalities. Examples of these shared competences include property tax, road maintenance, urban planning and building permits.
Local competences
. Urban and spatial planning
. Environmental protection
. Local economic development
. Water supply and treatment
. Road maintenance and sewage
. Culture
. Sports and leisure
. Social and health care
. Child care
. Elementary and secondary education
. Fire services
. Disaster protection and assistance
