Sveitarfélagakerfið

Sveitarfélagakerfið refers to the system of local government in Iceland. Iceland is divided into municipalities, known as sveitarfélög, which are responsible for providing a range of public services to their residents. These services typically include education, social welfare, land use planning, waste management, and infrastructure development such as roads and water supply. The number of municipalities has varied over time due to mergers, with the current number being significantly smaller than in the past.

Each municipality is governed by a directly elected council, which is responsible for setting local policy and overseeing the administration. The council appoints an executive or mayor to manage the daily operations of the municipality. The responsibilities and powers of municipalities are defined by national legislation, and they are funded through local property taxes and government grants. The system aims to provide efficient and responsive local governance, allowing communities to address their specific needs and priorities. Cooperation between municipalities is also common, particularly for services that are more efficiently provided on a larger scale.