Local government in Delkora

Local government in Delkora refers to government jurisdictions below the state level in Delkora. It consists of counties (amter) and municipalities (kommuner), whose organization and powers vary from state to state. As of 2019, there are 372 counties in Delkora and 4,658 municipalities.

Municipalities

The entire territory of Delkora is divided into municipalities, which constitute the lowest level of government. The average population of Delkoran municipalities is 52,300. The State of Cybria has the most municipalities, with 1,587, followed by Førelskov with 1,339, Banderhus with 925, Vassengård with 568, Norvia with 192, and Lebøvenland with 46. The entire area of Norenstal is regarded as a single municipality under its state law.

Although the exact procedures vary by state, in general, municipalities are governed by a municipal council of anywhere between five and thirty-five members elected on the basis of proportional representation for four year terms. The council administers the municipality collectively, with the president serving as a ceremonial "mayor." Large metropolitan areas generally have separately-elected mayors and are organized as independent municipalities, meaning the municipal council performs the functions of both a municipality and a county.

Municipalities can be subdivided into cities, townships, or villages based on the types of settlements within them. Although the exact definitions vary, cities are generally urban settlements of more than 20,000 people, townships are usually suburban settlements or clusters of small towns, and villages are typically sparsely populated rural settlements. These subdivisions are used solely for administrative purposes within the municipality, and do not have their own powers.

In general, municipalities are responsible for:

• Zoning regulations
• Public libraries
• Municipal courts
• Public parks
• Waste management, sewage treatment, and water supply management
• Municipal road systems and public transportation
• Public housing
• Primary through upper secondary education
• Emergency fire and medical services
• Certain social services
• Setting municipal tax rates
• Additionally, some municipalities operate their own municipal electric utilities

Counties

Counties consist of associations of municipalities and are the first-tier subdivisions of the states. In states that have adopted home rule, municipalities may freely join and secede from counties, while in others, county boundaries are fixed by state law. They are typically governed by a county council consisting of between five and twenty-five members elected through proportional representation.

Counties are generally responsible for:

• Hospitals
• Assessment of property and land taxes
• Agricultural policy and land management
• Environmental policy
• Maintaining state district courts
• Record-keeping
• County road systems
• Certain social services
• Setting county tax rates