Prior to the reform, New Cambria was divided into nine counties, and 65 municipalities. Each county had an elected County Council, made up of representatives from each municipality in the county. The County Councils had power over waste management, primary and secondary education, libraries, social services, transport, strategic planning and consumer protection. Below the County Councils were the individual Municipal Councils. The Municipal Councils were also elected, either at-large or from subdivided districts within each municipality. The Municipal Councils had more limited powers, including housing, waste collection, tax collection, licensing and cemeteries. New Cambria's four largest municipalities at the time (Arvant, Averytown, Talbot and Southport) had special status as "Home Rule