English

The Association of Local Authorities in Iceland

The Association of Local Authorities in Iceland is the forum for co-operation between the local authorities. It was established in 1945 by 52 local authorities; since 1973, all local authorities in the country have been members of the association.

Chairman of the association is Mr. Halldor Halldorsson and CEO Mr. Karl Bjornsson.

Local Governments in Iceland - booklet.

Local Authorities in Iceland

Iceland′s local authorities function under the Local Government Act, No. 45/1998. While tasks that the local authorities are required to do by law are defined in various items of separate legislation, the act sets out their rights and obligations.

The number of local authorities areas has fallen recently as they have been combined to form larger administrative units. In the year 2000 the number of municipalities in Iceland was 124 but after the Municipality election in 2006 the number was down to 79. The role of the local authorities has also changed, becoming more complex, now embracing primary schools and social services. All administration of the primary schools was taken over by the local authorities on 1st August 1996, now accounting for the largest single aspect of their work.

Under the Local Government Act, the Association of Local Authorities in Iceland is the joint representative of the country′s local authorities. It defends their interests in dealings with the government and other parties both in Iceland and abroad. It formulates common policy on individual issues and therefore works closely with the government and the Althing. A special co-operation agreement is in force between the association and the government, containing formal provisions covering relations between them.

Statutes of the Icelandic Association of Local Authorities

List of municipalities in Iceland with the most common information such as addresses, telephone, faxnumber, e-mail and name of person in charge. (Excel-file, updated October 15 2007)

In the column "Sveitarfélög" here on the left you can see a list of the municipalities where the local government is listed with the names of the representatives where the words "hreppsnefnd, borgarstjórn and bæjarstjórn" means "local government" and the word "varamenn" means substitutes in the local government.

Municipalities and Unification of municipalities in Iceland since 1950.

Structure of the Association

The association′s national congress is held every four years following the local authorities elections. Each local authority has at least one representative at the congress; and the number increases in accordance with changes of inhabitants. A representative council, consisting of 55 members, is elected at the national congress. It meets at least twice a year. The association′s executive board is elected at the congress. It consists of 9 representatives. The chairman of the executive board is elected in a special election at the national congress.

Statutes of the Icelandic Association of Local Authorities

The office of the Association of Local Authorities in Iceland

The functions of the office of the Association of Local Authorities in Iceland are to:

• Implement the association′s policies. 
• Defend the interests of the municipalities. 
• Provide information on particular aspects of local authorities. 
• Publish material concerning local authorities.

The work is partly divided between five main departments: the Financial and Economical Department, the Wages department, the Legal Department, the Office and Information Department and the International and Development Department, each of which is under a departmental manager. The association publishes the magazine "Sveitarstjornarmal" and the manager of the project "Stadardagskra 21", Local Agenda 21, also works in connection with the office.

The office of the Association of Local Authorities in Iceland is operated in association with the Municipality Credit Iceland (MCI), which is a capital loan fund owned by the local authorities, and the Emergency Relief Fund, which compensates for livestock losses and damage resulting from natural catastrophes. These three institutions share the same manager and, to an extent, the same staff.