Authors

• Foundation for Municipal Development

Keywords

consolidation of municipalities, local finance, local government, local taxation, municipal government, municipal managers, municipalities, public sector, public services, social economy, subsidies

Abstract

The survey studied the opinions of municipal leaders (municipal managers and chairpersons of municipal executive boards) on how to improve municipal finances. The respondents evaluated the acceptability of increasing local taxes, privatising municipal services, reducing governmental control, laying off/reducing municipal staff, etc. The respondents were asked to what extent they agreed with a number of statements relating to municipal finances, administration, services, taxation and democracy, the number and size of municipalities, and relations between the government and municipalities. One theme covered the preferred measures to cut municipal expenditure: should municipalities increase local taxes, cut services, or make citizens pay for the services. The respondents were asked which municipal services could be cut. Changes in municipal services over the past two years were charted.

The respondents were also asked which services presently provided by municipalities could be left to other bodies (i.e. governmental or non-governmental organisations, private enterprises, or citizens themselves). The survey carried a set of attitudinal questions about the consolidation of municipalities. The respondents rated the usefulness of certain national and regional bodies (e.g. various ministries, universities, Statistics Finland, The National Land Survey) to their municipality.

Background variables included the respondent's sex, status in municipal administration, municipality size, and province.