Helsinki City Government in Brief

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Helsinki City Governmentin Brief
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History of Helsinki City Government 1
1550 Helsinki was founded by Swedish King
Gustavus Vasa 1640 City was moved to present
Kruununhaka 1809 Swedish rule changes to Russian
rule 1812 Helsinki becomes capital city of
autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland 1819 Senate
moves from Turku to Helsinki
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History of Helsinki City Government 2

• 1875 Helsinkis City Council founded
• 1917 Finland becomes independent
• First City Council elected by universal and equal
  suffrage
• 1922 First Mayor of Helsinki elected
• 1931 City Board established
• 1977 New local government law mayors not any
  more City Board members

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Helsinki as the capital city

• Presidential palace (Pehr Granstedt, 1820) and
  residence (Mäntyniemi Raili Reima Pietilä,
  1993)
• Parliament House (Mannerheimintie J. S. Sirén,
  1931)
• Government Palace (Senate Square Carl Ludwig
  Engel, 1822)
• Helsinki University (founded in 1640, Senate
  Square Carl Ludwig Engel, 1822)
• Bank of Finland (Snellmaninkatu Ludwig
  Bohnstedt, 1883)

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Helsinki City Hall

• Helsinki City Hall is located in the former Hôtel
  Societetshuset building, architect Carl Ludwig
  Engel, 1833.
• In 1896, the Lumière Cinematograph showed the
  first moving film in Finland in Hôtel
  Societetshuset, only six months after the world
  premiere in Paris.
• Of the renovated buildings interior, only the
  former Hôtel Societetshuset banquet hall has been
  preserved.

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Population of Helsinki
Total of Helsinki Region 1,303,579
of Finnish population 24.6
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Population of Helsinki
Total population (31 Dec 2007) 568,531 Women 53.3
Men 46.7 Finnish speaking
84.9Swedish speaking 6.1Other
languages 9.0 Russian
2.1 Estonian 1.0
Somali 0.9
English 0.9
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Employment in Helsinki
Jobs, total
374,344primary production
0.1 industry 13.4services
85.7- trade, finance,
transport 50.0- public services
35.7 Self-sufficiency of jobs
136,6 Information sector jobs, of all
jobs 17,9 Unemployment rate 6.1
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The Constitution of Finland, 121 (1?3)

• Finland is divided into municipalities, whose
  administration shall be based on the
  self-government of their residents.
• Provisions on the general principles governing
  municipal administration and the duties of the
  municipalities are laid down by an Act.
• The municipalities have the right to levy
  municipal tax. Provisions on the general
  principles governing tax liability and the
  grounds for the tax as well as on the legal
  remedies available to the persons or entities
  liable to taxation are laid down by an Act.

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Legislation on local government in Finland

• Finnish local government entities (i.e. cities
  and other municipalities) have a broad range of
  responsibilities.
• As self-governing entities, they can undertake
  various functions (general competence), but they
  also have a statutory obligation to perform a
  number of duties (specific competence).
• Moreover, the law sets out a number of functions
  that are at the local governments own
  discretion. However, should a city or other
  municipality decide to undertake them, they must
  observe the relevant special legislation.
• (based on
• http//www.intermin.fi/intermin/home.nsf/lpages/r
  esponsibilitiesmunicipalaffairslegislationonlocalg
  overnmentinfinland?opendocument)

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Local Government Act 1

• The Local Government Act forms the basis for
  local government in Finland. Unless provided
  otherwise elsewhere in the law, it applies both
  to the decision-making process and
  administration.
• According to the Act, the cities and other
  municipalities must perform the functions they
  have undertaken as self-governing entities and
  those laid down for them in the law. Moreover,
  municipalities may not be allocated new functions
  or duties, nor can they be deprived of functions
  of rights, other than by passing legislation to
  this effect.
• The power of decision in a municipality rests
  with the local council elected by the residents
  for a four-year period.

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Local Government Act 2

• The Local Government Act also contains provisions
  on other aspects of municipal administration. In
  fact, municipalities have broad powers in matters
  pertaining to their own administrative
  structures, such as institutions and their
  duties.
• Moreover, the Act contains provisions on the
  opportunity of local residents (including foreign
  citizens permanently residing in the city) to
  influence decision-making and participate in the
  process, municipal finances, administrative and
  financial supervision, cooperation between
  municipalities and legal safeguards of local
  government employees and residents.
• (based on
• http//www.intermin.fi/intermin/home.nsf/pages/B2
  F34AEA85E56BFBC2256B81003AEADA?opendocument)

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Local government specific duties

• There are special laws on the services
  municipalities must provide for their residents.
  The most important of these are in the fields of
  social welfare and health, education and culture.
  
• Municipalities are also responsible for fire and
  rescue services, and the maintenance of streets
  and local roads in their territory. Moreover,
  they perform functions in the field of
  environmental administration, such as land use
  planning, building regulation, environmental
  protection and waste management.
• Under the Electoral Act, municipalities must also
  contribute to the organization of national and
  local elections.
• (based on
• http//www.intermin.fi/intermin/home.nsf/lpages/r
  esponsibilitiesmunicipalaffairslegislationonlocalg
  overnmentinfinland?opendocument)

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Helsinki Administration
City Council (85)
City Board (15)
Mayor of Helsinki
Deputy Mayor for Social and Health Affairs
Deputy Mayor for Public Works and Environmental
Affairs
Deputy Mayor for City Planning and Real Estate
Deputy Mayor for Cultural and Personnel Affairs
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Duties of City Institutions

• City Council, elected by citizens every four
  years in direct proportional elections, is
  responsible for finances and operations of the
  City.
• The City Board, appointed by the Council, is
  responsible for the practical running of the
  local administration and its finances. It
  prepares issues coming before the council,
  represents the local authority and safeguards its
  interests.
• The Mayor, appointed by the Council, manages the
  operations of the City, subject to the City
  Board.
• City Committees, elected by the Council, handle
  the local authority's permanent functions in
  different sectors.
• Public corporations have usually a management
  board.
• (Local Government Act)

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Helsinki City Council
National Coalition Party (conservative)
27Social Democratic Party
20 Greens
16 Left Alliance
8 Swedish People's Party
6 Finnish Centre Party
4 Christian Democrats
2 True Finns 1 Communist Party
1 TOTAL

85 Chairperson, Ms. Rakel Hiltunen (Social
Democrats) I Deputy Chairperson, Mr. Harry
Bogomoloff (Coalition Party) II Deputy
Chairperson, Ms. Minerva Krohn (Greens)
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Helsinki City Board

• Chairperson, Ms. Suvi Rihtniemi (Coalition Party)
• I Deputy Chairperson, Mr. Otto Lehtipuu (Greens)
• II Deputy Chairperson, Ms. Sirkka-Liisa
  Vehviläinen (Social Democrats)
• Mr. Juha Hakola (Coalition Party)
• Ms. Sanna Hellström (Greens)
• Ms. Tarja Kantola (Social Democrats)
• Mr. Jouko Malinen (Social Democrats)
• Ms. Elina Moisio (Greens)
• Ms. Outi Ojala (Left Alliance)

• Mr. Jan D. Oker-Blom (Swedish Party)
• Mr. Osku Pajamäki (Social Democrats)
• Mr. Terhi Peltokorpi (Centre Party)
• Mr. Risto Rautava (Coalition Party)
• Mr. Ulla-Marja Urho (Coalition Party)
• Ms. Irmeli Wallden-Paulig (Coalition Party)

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Mayors of the City of Helsinki

• Mayor of Helsinki, Mr. Jussi Pajunen
• Deputy Mayor for Public Works and Environmental
  Affairs, Mr. Pekka Sauri
• Deputy Mayor for Social and Health Affairs, Ms.
  Paula Kokkonen
• Deputy Mayor for Education and Cultural Affairs,
  Ms. Tuula Haatainen
• Deputy Mayor for City Planning and Real Estate,
  Mr. Hannu Penttilä

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Committees and Boards 1

• Part of the powers vested of the City Council has
  been transferred to different committees and
  boards. They direct and develop the activities of
  the city departments and public corporations. The
  members of the committees and boards are elected
  by the City Council.
• There is a representative of the City Board in
  each board and committee, and he or she has the
  right to participate in the meetings and in the
  discussions but not in the decision making. With
  some exceptions, a decision made by a board can
  be taken on the agenda of the City Board, should
  the latter or its chairman, the Mayor or a Deputy
  Mayor so decide.

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Committees and Boards 2

• There are altogether 28 different committees and
  boards in the City of Helsinki, for example
• City Planning Committee
• Public Works Committee
• Health Committee
• Social Service Committee
• City Transport Committee
• Educational Committee
• Environmental Protection Committee
• Harbour Committee
• Board of the City Museum etc.

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Departments and public corporations of Helsinki

• Audit Department
• Building Regulation Department
• City Art Museum
• City Library
• City Museum
• City Office
• City of Helsinki Service Centre Palmia
• City of Helsinki Urban Facts
• City Planning Department
• City Transport
• Cultural Office
• Economic and Planning Centre
• Education Department
• Education and Development Centre
• Environment Centre
• Finnish Adult Education Centre
• Health Department
• Helsinki Energy
• Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

• Helsinki Textile Services
• Helsinki Water
• Helsinki Wholesale Market
• Helsinki Zoo
• Housing Production Department
• Occupational Health Centre
• Personnel Centre
• Port of Helsinki
• Public Works Department
• Real Estate Department
• Rescue Department
• Social Services Department
• Sports Department
• Supplies Department
• Swedish Adult Education Centre
• Youth Department
• Foundations
• City Theatre

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Local Government Finances 1

• Local authorities finance their annual
  expenditure of about 38 billion euros out of
  taxes, government subsidies, various charges, and
  sales revenues.
• Finnish local authorities have the right to levy
  taxes.  Local income tax, real estate tax and a
  share of corporate tax account for more than half
  of all municipal revenues. The average local tax
  rate is 18.6 percent of income.
• source http//www.kunnat.net/k_perussivu.asp?pat
  h116127928037561

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Local Government Finances 2

• Charges and fees account for about a quarter of
  municipal revenues. Customer charges are
  collected for services such as water supply,
  waste disposal, power supply and public
  transport. Just under one tenth of social welfare
  and health expenditure is covered through
  customer and patient charges. Basic education is
  free.
• Central government grants local authorities
  financial assistance in exchange for a wide range
  of statutory services. The State subsidy system
  evens out differences between local authorities
  and ensures equal provision of services. State
  subsidies account for less than one-fifth of all
  municipal revenues.
• source http//www.kunnat.net/k_perussivu.asp?pat
  h116127928037561

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Helsinki City Budget Breakdown of Expenditure,
2007
Total EUR 3,873 million
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Helsinki City Budget Breakdown of Revenue, 2007
Income Tax 17,5
Total EUR 4,133 million
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City Personnel, 2007
Total 38,623
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Helsinki Region
Helsinki Metropolitan Area 1 Helsinki 2 Espoo 3
Vantaa 4 Kauniainen Other Helsinki Region
municipalities 5 Hyvinkää 6 Järvenpää 7 Kerava 8
Kirkkonummi 9 Mäntsälä 10 Nurmijärvi 11
Pornainen 12 Sipoo 13Tuusula 14 Vihti
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Helsinki Region without Mäntsälä and Pornainen,
Regions
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Helsinki Region Statistics Population
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Helsinki Region Statistics Economy
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European Union Cities (Metropolitan Regions),
Top 10 according to GDP per capita, 2005

• Luxembourg, Luxembourg (country) 59,202 e
• Brussels, Belgium (Brussels-Capital
  Region) 53,876 e
• Munich, Germany (Region München) 46,803 e
• Hamburg, Germany (state) 45,271 e
• London, Britain (Greater London) 41,475 e
• Vienna, Austria (state) 39,774 e
• Paris, France (Région Ile-de France) 38,666 e
• Stockholm, Sweden (Stockholms län) 38,574 e
• Helsinki, Finland (Helsinki Region) 37,499 e
• Bremen, Germany (state) 35,184 e

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Helsinki Metropolitan Area Advisory Board

• The Helsinki Metropolitan Area Advisory Board is
  a cooperation body of leading elected officials
  of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen. The
  activities of the Advisory Board are based on
  decisions made by the city councils of the cities
  involved. Items on the agenda are prepared at
  mayors' meetings and a joint work plan is adopted
  every year. The Advisory Board has annually 4-6
  meetings since 2004.
• The Advisory Board has adopted the Common Vision
  and Strategy for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
  The vision is implemented through the launch of
  cooperation projects. The strategy is
  incorporated into each citys operating and
  financial plan and helps steer the cities
  strategic planning in the coming years.

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Helsinki Region Cooperation Assembly

• The Helsinki Region Cooperation Assembly is the
  cooperation body of the leading elected officials
  of fourteen municipalities in the Helsinki
  region. Participating are the cities of the
  Helsinki Metropolitan Area (Helsinki, Espoo,
  Vantaa and Kauniainen), the Central Uusimaa KUUMA
  municipalities (Järvenpää, Nurmijärvi, Tuusula,
  Kerava, Mäntsälä and Pornainen) and the Neloset
  group of municipalities (Hyvinkää, Kirkkonummi,
  Vihti and Sipoo).
• Regional cooperation aims to develop Helsinki
  region's international competitiveness. It is
  based on a joint vision of the region's
  municipalities on the challenges of the area and
  a shared will on promoting the areas
  development.
• The Helsinki Region cooperation focuses
  particularly on land use, housing and transport
  issues as well as regional services. More
  specific decisions on cooperation content are
  made under the annual action plan.

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Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council

• Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council YTV is a
  statutory cooperation body of the cities of
  Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen. YTV is
  responsible for waste management, regional
  transport services and air quality monitoring in
  the metropolitan area.
• In addition, YTVs tasks comprise metropolitan
  area transport system planning, as well as
  research and survey work to support regional
  development.
• YTV also provides services to other
  municipalities in the Uusimaa region on the basis
  of separate contracts. For example, all Kerava
  internal public transport services and part of
  the services in Kirkkonummi are managed by YTV.
• In 2008, YTVs budget is almost EUR 280 million,
  of which EUR 90 million consists of municipal
  contributions.

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Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS)

• For the organisation of specialised medical care,
  Finland is divided into 20 hospital districts.
  Five of them are university hospital districts.
  The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa
  (HUS) is the largest of these.
• HUS serves patients by providing specialised
  medical care for the residents of its 31 member
  municipalities. The aim is to offer patients in
  all member municipalities a timely and equal
  access to specialised medical care. 
• HUS offers high-calibre specialist medical care
  in all 23 of its hospitals throughout the
  province of Uusimaa. In addition, as the largest
  university hospital in Finland, Helsinki
  University Central Hospital HUCH is nationally
  responsible for treating severe and rare
  illnesses and ones calling for special expertise
  and technology.