Kommunerne

Kommunerne is the collective term for Denmark’s local government municipalities. They are the lowest tier of public administration, responsible for a range of local services within a defined geographic area. Each municipality operates under national law and the Danish constitution, and it administers areas that directly affect residents’ daily lives. The term is used to describe the 98 municipalities created after the 2007 municipal reform.

Governance and administration work through elected structures. Each municipality has a municipal council (kommunalbestyrelse) elected every four years. The council appoints a mayor (borgmester) or council chair and sets policy for the municipality, while a municipal administration led by a municipal director (kommunaldirektør) handles day-to-day operations and service delivery. Municipalities also cooperate with the regional level in matters that span local borders or require specialized expertise.

Responsibilities of the kommuner include the organization of primary and lower secondary education (folkeskolen), kindergartens and childcare, elder care and social services, local planning and building permits, housing and environmental management, waste and water supply, culture, libraries, sports and leisure facilities, and local roads and public transport coordination. Health care is organized regionally by the five regional authorities (Regionerne), not by the municipalities themselves.

Financing comes mainly from municipal income tax and block grants from the state, supplemented by user fees and other revenue. Budgets are planned within national financial guidelines and must be balanced over time.

The 2007 reform significantly reduced the number of municipalities and replaced the former counties with five regions, aiming for more efficient service delivery and greater regional coherence. Municipalities also participate in inter-municipal cooperation through national associations to coordinate services and shared infrastructure.