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Administrative divisions |
 Belize portal |
Local government inBelize consists of four types of local authorities:city councils,town councils,village councils andcommunity councils. Some rural communities also have analcalde, a local magistrate who performs both administrative and judicial functions.
There are two city councils (Belize City andBelmopan) and seven town councils in Belize.[1] As of 2000, the seven town councils areBenque Viejo del Carmen,Corozal Town,Dangriga,Orange Walk Town,Punta Gorda,San Ignacio, andSan Pedro.[2]
City and town councils consist of amayor and a number of councillors (ten inBelize City, six inBelmopan and the towns). Mayors and councillors are directly elected to three-year terms, using thefirst past the post system. The most recent municipal elections were held inMarch 2021. The mayor (except in Belize City) acts as the chief executive of the city or town, and allocates portfolios to the other councillors.
City and town councils have a wide range of functions. According to the Government of Belize website, "urban authorities are responsible forstreet maintenance and lighting,drains,refuse collection and publiccemeteries. They also have discretionary powers over other services includinginfrastructure,parks and playgrounds,markets and slaughter-houses,public libraries, public buildings and the amenities of the city or town centre."[1]
Village councils began in the 1950sand were formalised by the VillageCouncils Act 1999 which legalised theirrole and authority to administer villageaffairs. Villages are declared by ministerialorder and one qualification for villagestatus is a minimum of 200 voters. Thecouncil is required to meet at least onceevery quarter and has discretionarypowers to appoint committees. Decisionsof village committees are subject to theapproval of their council.
There are over 180 village councils in Belize. Village councils consist of achairperson and six councillors, who are directly elected by registered villagers.
Village councils have existed in Belize on an informal basis since the 1950s, but they were first put on a statutory footing by the Village Councils Act 1999. After the Act came into force, the first elections for village councils were held in March and April 2001.
Village councils have a more limited range of functions than town councils. They "encourage and assist co-operation on economic and social development and general welfare", and can runcommunity centres and advise the national government on the affairs of the locality.[1]
Some rural villages in Belize also have analcalde: a local magistrate who has both an administrative and a judicial role. In addition to presiding over local courts, alcaldes are responsible for managing communal land and act as school officers. This form of local governance is practised mainly inMayan communities in Belize, but any rural community can choose to appoint an alcalde.[1]