Gminas

Gminas are the basic units of territorial self-government in Poland. They form the lowest tier of administrative division, sit within a voivodeship (województwo) and a powiat (county), and are responsible for local matters. Gminas come in three types: urban (miasto), rural (wiejska), and urban-rural (miasto-wieś).

Each gmina has an elected council (rada gminy) that acts as the legislative body and an executive head elected directly by residents: wójt in rural gminas, burmistrz in urban and urban-rural gminas, or, in some cities, a prezydent miasta. The council and executive serve five-year terms.

Gmina responsibilities include spatial planning, local roads and infrastructure, elementary education and preschools, social welfare, waste management, water supply, and local cultural and sporting services. They draft and implement the gmina budget and local taxes and fees; many larger projects are funded from state subsidies or EU funds.

Gminas operate within the three-tier system established in 1999, alongside powiats and voivodeships. They may collaborate with neighboring gminas on inter-municipal projects. While the core powers are consistent, some functions vary with type and size.

There are about 2,500 gminas in Poland, making the gmina the most numerous level of local government and the primary point of contact for residents on daily public services.