The Department of Seine-et-Marne defends its budget in the face of cuts announced by the government. He fears for the future of local public policies and a mobilization brought together the territory's elected officials on Tuesday, November 5 in Melun.
A large-scale mobilization took place, in front of the prefecture of Melun, at the call of the president of the Departmental Council of Seine-et-Marne, Jean-François Parigi. Five hundred people, including more than two hundred mayors, departmental councilors and representatives of territorial organizations, gathered to express their indignation and the refusal to “sacrifice the future of the Department on the altar of budget cuts” imposed by the draft Finance Law (PLF) 2025.
Thursday, October 10, the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry, Antoine Armand, and the Minister responsible for the Budget and Public Accounts, Laurent Saint-Martin, presented the finance bill to the Council of Ministers. for 2025.
The deputies resumed examination of the “revenue” part of the finance bill. A solemn vote on this part is scheduled for today, Tuesday, November 12. The deputies began the discussion on this part on October 21 but were unable to complete it within the planned timetable.
The PLF 2025 provides for a general reduction of 60 billion euros in public spending, 5 billion of which will directly affect local authorities. For Seine-et-Marne, the amputation represents 70 million euros “which will hit resources hard, limiting the capacity to maintain, and even less to develop, the essential daily services of Seine-et-Marnais” .
Each year, the Department devotes 98.6 million euros to the safety and maintenance of roads, investments for mobility and structuring projects such as the East Paris link. “ Security, for which the Department refuses to compromise, is today in danger” declares the president of the Department, Jean-François Parigi. He adds: “ The cuts would weaken the capacity to act urgently to ensure a rapid and effective response to disasters, such as the 2 million euros released in 2024 after the violent floods, as well as the aid to municipalities to support local development which amounts to 91 million euros since 2021. Policies in favor of sustainable agriculture could be dismantled, weakening a sector essential for the economic and ecological balance of the territory. »
The most vulnerable are also on the front line. Autonomy policies, with more than 307.2 million euros annually, risk being cut, threatening the elderly and those with disabilities. “Child protection, the care of which is based on investments of 19.2 million euros for the SDAU (development and town planning master plan), cannot and must not be weakened. »
Jean-François Parigi further denounces the measures: “We do not accept seeing our department sacrificed. Budget cuts compromise crucial social, economic, and educational projects. We call on the State to demonstrate responsibility by preserving the autonomy of local communities. Yes, we understand the need to reduce the deficit, but not at the cost of abandoning our territories. The future of Seine-et-Marne is at stake, and we will not back down. We refuse to give up what makes our department strong. Our determination is total. The future of Seine-et-Marne is not negotiable. »
The Department will also fight for the future of young people: since the start of the mandate, 572 million euros have been devoted to school infrastructure and 9 million dedicated to canteens. “These are not superfluous expenses, but an investment in their development. School transport, essential to guarantee equal access to education with an investment of 21 million euros per year, is also threatened, risking depriving students of their fundamental right to education. »
Likewise, reducing budgets for sport, culture and security would deprive the Seine-et-Marnais of multiple services.
