powiata

Powiat is a fundamental administrative division in Poland, roughly equivalent to a county in other countries. It functions as a unit of local government within the larger voivodeship (province). Each powiat is comprised of several smaller administrative units called gminas. These gminas can be either urban, rural, or urban-rural, depending on their population and development. The primary responsibilities of a powiat include areas such as public roads, education (specifically secondary schools and vocational training), healthcare facilities, public transport, and certain social welfare services. The governing body of a powiat is the sejmik powiatowy, a regional assembly elected by residents, which then elects a zarząd powiatu, an executive board, to manage day-to-day affairs. The head of the zarząd powiatu is typically the starosta. Powiaty play a crucial role in decentralizing administrative power and providing localized public services to their citizens, ensuring that governance is responsive to regional needs.