Organization

Public administration in Norway has a 3-tier structure with the following elements: central government, county authority and municipal government. The welfare of the individual is closely bound up with the activities of the county and municipal governments. Norway is divided into 19 counties (fylker) and more than 400 municipalities (kommuner). 

The county authority is responsible for tasks that are too large or too complex for the municipalities to manage alone. The central government has an overriding authority and supervises both county and municipal administration. The activities of the county authority are mainly limited by central government’s fiscal policy, i.e. through subsidies and block grants.

The county authority is responsible for regional development. The county authorities draw up Regional Development Programmes and establish binding partnerships with the business community, competence environments, agencies, interest groups and municipalities. The county authority must be an active organizer, cooperation partner and initiator of new solutions, with the emphasis on unity, user-friendliness and cooperation. The county authority is responsible for regional transport, upper secondary schools, business development, cultural development, cultural preservation, regional libraries, regional planning and dental health care.

The administration of Oppland County is located in Lillehammer.