fylkesmyndigheter

Fylkesmyndigheter refers to the county authorities in Norway. These administrative bodies were responsible for a range of public services at the county level. Prior to January 1, 2024, Norway was divided into 11 fylker, or counties, and each had its own fylkeskommune, which served as the local government for the county. The fylkeskommune was headed by a directly elected fylkesting, a county council, which in turn appointed a fylkesråd, a county executive committee, to manage day-to-day affairs.

The responsibilities of the fylkesmyndigheter were diverse and included areas such as secondary education (gymnas and vocational schools), public transport planning, cultural heritage management, county roads, and specialized healthcare services. They also played a role in regional development and planning. The structure and specific duties could vary slightly between counties.

However, a significant administrative reform took place in Norway, with the merger of many fylker. As of January 1, 2024, the previous 11 fylker were consolidated into larger regions. This reform aimed to reduce administrative layers and create more efficient governance structures. Consequently, the traditional fylkesmyndigheter in their previous form have largely been dissolved or reorganized into new administrative units, with some of their functions being transferred to the new, larger counties or to the municipalities. The term "fylkesmyndigheter" therefore now primarily refers to the historical administrative bodies that existed before this reform.