Sveitarstjórnarkerfi

Sveitarstjórnarkerfi refers to the system of local governance in Iceland. It is the framework through which municipalities, known as sveitarfélög, are organized and operate. This system is defined by Icelandic law, primarily the Local Government Act (Sveitarstjórnarlög). The core principle of the sveitarstjórnarkerfi is that local authorities are responsible for providing a range of public services to their residents. These services typically include water supply, sewage, waste management, education, social services, and urban planning.

Each sveitarfélag is governed by a directly elected municipal council, the sveitarstjórn. The size of the council varies depending on the population of the municipality. The council is responsible for setting local policy, approving budgets, and overseeing the administration of the municipality. A mayor, or bærjarstjóri/sveitarstjóri, is usually elected by the council and serves as the chief executive officer, responsible for implementing council decisions and managing day-to-day operations. The sveitarstjórnarkerfi aims to decentralize decision-making and allow for local responsiveness to community needs. Municipalities in Iceland can be relatively small, and a significant number of them have merged in recent years to create larger, more efficient units. This consolidation is a continuing trend within the sveitarstjórnarkerfi.