Aid for transport, roads, colleges… in crisis, the Department of Essonne adopts savings measures

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Fifty million euros is the amount of savings that the Department of Essonne must make in its operating expenses to present a balanced budget in 2025. On Monday December 16, 2024, the departmental assembly a approved the budgetary orientation report for the coming year. Crossing a budget crisisthe community has already validated several savings measures Who will affect directly Essonniens.

A constrained budget to face the “storm”

“We are navigating in the fog,” underlines Nicolas Samsoen, the vice-president in charge of finance, referring to the very uncertain national context after the overthrow of Michel Barnier’s government and the absence of a finance law for 2025.

For two years, the Department has been undergoing a violent scissors effect on its finances with one of its main revenues (transfer rights for valuable consideration) eroding (-40% in two years), because it is dependent on the dynamics of the real estate market.

To this first blade is added a second which constitutes the continued increase in compulsory expenditure, due to social needs and a population that continues to increase.

In the storm, we wish to maintain two courses: not to commit illegality by voting for a deficit budget and to emerge from this situation with a ship which is not in too bad condition.

Three levers activated to save money

To do this, the budgetary orientation report plans to save 16 million euros in the so-called “base” expenses which brings together social expenditure, colleges and the departmental fire and rescue service.

With internal management measuresthe Department also intends to make 8 million euros in savings.

But the lever on which the community pulls the most is that of so-called “optional” expenses: 26 million euros less, particularly for culture, sport, community life and even mobility aids.

Reduced mobility aids for students and the elderly

On this last point, the majority chose to delete the taxi card, highlighting a low number of users.

As for school transport, there is no elimination, as was the case in Yvelines, but a reduction of the contribution to Imagine’R and Scol’R cards increasing the remaining costs for families (with prices adapted for scholarship students).

Finally, the Amethyst card, reserved for elderly or disabled people, will be less supported by the Department which justifies this measure by evoking the new pricing policy of Île-de-France Mobilités which will offer, from January 1, 2025, more advantageous prices.

The “Young Citizens Springboard” is reducing its size

For its part, the “Tremplin Jeunes Citoyens” system, which allows young people to carry out missions of general interest in return for a financial boost, will no longer be temporarily accessible for 18 – 25 year olds, to be refocused on middle school students aged 12 to 15 and maintained for 15-17 year olds.

When it comes to investment spending, the impact is even stronger. While the 2022-2028 multi-annual plan provided for around 300 million euros per year, the budgetary guidelines report lowered this amount to 200 million euros.

A large-scale measure which has direct consequences: firstly, the continuation of blank years for subsidies.

The construction of the Gif-sur-Yvette college postponed

Projects will also be postponed such as work on the RN6 and the construction of one of the eight new colleges which are to see the light of day in Essonne, in this case that of Gif-sur-Yvette, which will be postponed without a new date having yet been set.

Furthermore, recurring investment which essentially concerns maintenance of roads and buildings will also be reduced.

“If it lasts one or two years, it won’t be dramatic, but It doesn’t have to last any longer.”emphasizes Nicolas Samsoen.

Aid to municipalities reduced, but not eliminated

THE “Terre d’Avenirs Contracts”, which make it possible to support municipal investments, will be maintained.

However, the amounts paid will be reduced by 20% (the floor amount remains at €150,000) and the duration between the signing of two contracts will be extended by one year.

“These contracts allow the support for the Essonne economy with 70% of the investment amount benefiting SMEs in the department, thus contributing to local employment,” assures Michel Bournat, vice-president in charge of partnerships with the territories.

In the ranks of Naturally Essonne groupelected officials do not validate the choices made by the majority in this budgetary orientation report, voting against its adoption.

“Those who pay in the end are the Essonniens”

“Cultural, sporting and social associations will suffer a violent break in their budget”, deplores Olivier Thomas, departmental councilor of the canton of Ulis.

Marie-Claire Arasa, elected in the canton of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, is concerned about the end of free remote assistance for the elderly and the “pressure” which will be put on the staff of colleges and medico-social establishments.

“Those who pay in the end are the Essonniens,” regrets Olivier Thomas who calls for “putting everything back on track”, between now and the examination of the initial 2025 budget, scheduled for February 3.

More measured, the president of the Department François Durovray expressed his wish that the coming weeks until the budget vote be “taken advantage of by all elected officials to move the lines in showing responsibility” at a time when budgetary reality forces the community to make choices “which are not pleasant”.

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