Joint municipal authority

Joint municipal boards were introduced as a form of intermunicipal cooperation in connection with the revision of the Local Government Act in 1993. They replaced the earlier inter-municipal associations. A joint municipal board is a form of permanent collaboration of more than one municipality in some field of operation. A joint municipal board is set up under an agreement (charter) between the local authorities concerned which has been approved by their councils.

Joint municipal boards are independent legal persons and governed by the legislation on local government. A joint municipal board can acquire rights and enter into commitments and has the right to be heard before authorities. Ultimately, the participating municipalities are responsible for the finances of the joint municipal board.

The most significant joint municipal boards are regional councils, hospital districts and joint municipal boards in the field of public health, in special care districts and education districts. Three-fourths of joint municipal board expenditure is derived from the provision of health care services.