Municipal Amalgamation and the Role of the Joint Municipal Boards in Finland

在芬兰，联合市政委员会制度由来已久，因为在芬兰，地方当局可以自己提供服务，但也可以从其他服务提供者那里购买服务，无论是公共还是私人的，或者将其运营私有化，例如通过成立公司。他们还可以与其他地方当局联合提供服务。市政当局可以自由地组成联合市政委员会，此外还有三个市政委员会，法律要求市政当局隶属于这些委员会；地区委员会、医院护理委员会和照顾弱智人士的委员会。长期以来，联合市政委员会制度一直被认为是确保向居民提供服务的最有效的方式。尽管近一半的市政规模很小，但芬兰人总体上并不喜欢市政合并。然而，由于人口原因和全球环境，芬兰政府于2005年5月制定了一项重组市政当局和服务机构的项目。该项目的目标是为未来的服务建立健全的财务基础。目前正在讨论三种模式：基本直辖市模式、地区模式和区域模式。内阁决定将于2006年秋季作出。

Finland is a country where the system of the joint municipal boards has a long history asIn Finland local authorities can produce services themselves, but they can also purchase them from other service providers, both public private, or privatize their operation, for example by setting up companies. They can also provide services jointly with other local authorities. Municipalities are free to form joint municipal boards, in addition to three municipal boards to which municipalities are required to belong by law ; regional councils, boards that operates hospital cares, and boards that take care of the mentally retarded.The system of joint municipal boards has long been regarded as the most effective way to secure services to the residents. Finnish people in general are not in fabour of municipal amalgamation, in spite of the fact that nearly half of the municipalities are very small-sized. However, due to demographic reasons and the global environment, Finnish government set a project to restructure municipalities and services in May 2005. The objective of the project is to establish sound financial basis for the services for future. Three models are now under discussion ; the model of basic municipalities, the district mode and the regional model. Cabinet decision will be made by autumn 2006.