making all municipal offices democratically elected and eliminating all the appointed figures (like the Provincial Governor). Authorities Each one of the 82 cantons of Costa Rica is govern by an elected Mayor, the first sub-national authorities since the elimination of provincial governors in 1998. Mayors are democratically elected alongside two deputy mayors. Up until 1998 the equivalent figure was called “Municipal Executive” and was appointed by the Municipal Council but a reform in the Municipal Code made the office of popular election. Also, each canton has a Municipal Council conformed by councilmen/women named “regidores”. The function of the Municipal Council is similar to that of a local parliament; approving the Municipality’s budget, bylaws, projects and checking the Mayor’s actions and is considered the maximum authority in the canton. The number of council members varies according to the canton’s population; the least populated cantons have five members and there’s no maximum but currently the most populated cantons like San Jose and Alajuela have eleven members. Each of the tenure members have also a deputy councilmember that acts as substitute in case the tenure member is absent, deputy councilors can’t vote (unless, of course, if they are in substitution) but can speak in the Council and be members of commissions. A deputy councilor can only be substitute of a tenure councilor of the same political party. Members of the Municipal Council are not representative of any district; they can be elected from any of the canton's districts. Each of the canton’s districts also has a District Council. District Councils are always presided over by an elected Syndic and also have four other elected members or District Councilors with voice and vote in the District Council. There’s also a Deputy Syndic and Deputy District Councilors with voice but no vote unless they are acting substitutes in a similar dynamics of the Municipal Council. Syndics also can assist the Municipal Council and they can speak on behalf of their districts, but can’t vote. In eight very specific districts that are considered too far away from the administrative center (because they are islands, mountain regions, etc.) the residents also elect an Intendant and a deputy Intendant, and their District Council is called Municipal District Council, having some special prerogatives that will normally be manage by the Municipality. Payments Mayors and Deputy Mayors receive a salary proportional to the Municipality’s budget, as for example San José