Soon, Philippe Ribot, president of the AMF30, will be received by the prefect of Gard, Jérôme Bonet.
It was to be expected. The Association of Mayors and Presidents of EPCI du Gard (AMF30) strongly opposes the finance bill for 2025 which provides for a global levy “unprecedented 8.75 billion euros” on local authorities. A plan which includes several budgetary measures likely to impact the investment capacities of AMF30 members and the maintenance of local public services.
According to the AMF30, this drain would come in several ways: a reduction of 800 million euros on the Value Added Tax Compensation Fund (FCTVA), a levy of 3 billion euros intended for large communities, as well as an increase of 1.3 billion euros in retirement contributions borne by territorial public employers. Grants allocated to communities would be frozen, which would, again according to the AMF30, result in a loss of around 500 million euros. Furthermore, the green fund would see its envelope reduced by 1.5 billion euros, and the fund dedicated to extracurricular activities eliminated.
The president of the association of mayors of Gard, Philippe Ribot. • Coralie Mollaret
The association judges the measures “dangerous” and therefore fears a significant negative impact on local investment, essential to infrastructure such as roads, schools and sports facilities, which mainly benefit small and medium-sized businesses. Elected officials also point to a risk of a slowdown in local ecological initiatives, as well as a possible deterioration of public services, accentuating inequalities. For the AMF30, the project strengthens the centralism of the State. She recalls that 71 billion euros have been taken from the DGF since 2010, with an impact on the public accounts.
“State debt has exploded while that of communities has been stable for 30 years at 9% of GDP. Moreover, communities will have to resort to borrowing to complete the projects started before this brutal decision. »
The AMF30 in a press release
Among the proposals from Gard elected officials are: “Treat locally what can be done, refocus the State on its fundamental missions such as security and leave the rest to communities, remove unnecessary standards which generate significant costs (1.6 billion euros in 2023 and 2, 5 billion in 2022, according to the work of the CNEN), establish a moratorium on the new standards applicable to communities, and restore fiscal autonomy, synonymous with responsibility and subsidiarity. »
LAST MINUTE
Accompanied by a large delegation of elected officials, Philippe Ribot, president of the AMF30, will meet the Gard prefect on November 12.
