Tuesday November 19, why are Lot town halls likely to be closed?

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The National Congress of Mayors and Presidents of Intermunicipality of France (AMF) will be held next week. On this occasion, a symbolic gathering of mayors, wearing their tricolor scarves, is planned for Paris on Tuesday November 19 afternoonas a sign of protest.

Closure, motion, exchanges?

Jean-Marc Vayssouze-Faure, president of the AMF46, invited the 313 mayors of Lot and the 9 intercommunal presidents to relay this mobilization at the local level. Municipalities are encouraged to carry out symbolic action, such as closing of the town hall on Tuesday afternoonposting a motion, or organizing an exchange with residents to raise awareness of the consequences of a reduction in resources on the quality of public services.

Denounce the government's coup

“We refuse to be the Government’s adjustment variables”this is the AMF’s slogan addressed to the Government. The mayors and elected officials of Lot denounce recent government measures imposing a reduction of 5 billion euros on local authorities, including 3 billion directly taken from their revenues. These decisions include a reduction in the VAT Compensation Fund (FCTVA), a freezing of VAT dynamics and an increase in social charges for territorial employers, threatening investment capacities, public services and the ecological transition.

They criticize the contradictions between government speeches advocating dialogue and unilateral acts which weaken local communities, the pillar of economic, social and environmental development. These measures, more severe than the previous Cahors contracts, aggravate the financial difficulties of the departments and municipalities. The associations of mayors and elected officials of Lot (AMF46) and association of rural mayors of Lot (AMRF46) demand:

Stopping financial grabs;

A review of decisions to respect local realities;

Opening a constructive dialogue with the State.

They warn of the risk of recession and reaffirm that communities are essential partners, not budgetary adjustment variables.

The Motion: We refuse to be the Government's adjustment variables

Considering the recent measures announced by the Government aimed at imposing on local authorities a financial effort of at least 5 billion euros, of which 3 billion will be directly taken from our real operating revenues;

Considering that these measures include a reduction in the VAT Compensation Fund (FCTVA) and a freezing of VAT dynamics, thus reducing our investment capacities;

Considering that the Prime Minister's remarks advocating listening and dialogue with communities are in contradiction with these unilateral decisions of unprecedented brutality;

Considering that these new measures, more severe than the Cahors contracts and the reductions in the overall operating allocation (DGF), penalize all communities in disregard of the principles of equity;

Considering that the social security financing bill provides for a 4-point increase in employer contributions from territorial employers to make up for the CNRACL deficit, i.e. a cost of 1.3 billion euros per year from 2025 to reach 5 billion in 2027 ;

Considering that the cumulative impact of these drains, accentuated by inflation and the costs linked to the ecological transition, threaten local investment, public services such as health or education as well as the ecological transition;

Considering that regulatory charges, such as the depreciation of roads and the thermal regulation of buildings, increase the financial burden on communities;

Considering that local authorities play a crucial role in economic, social and environmental development and that these measures jeopardize the ability of elected officials to respond to the legitimate expectations of our fellow citizens;

We, the Association of Mayors and Elected Officials of Lot (AMF46) and Association of Rural Mayors of Lot (AMRF46), declare:

1. Our firm opposition to these financial measures, which demonstrate real contempt for local authorities and intermunicipalities, on the front line in ensuring daily public services;

2. Our refusal of additional drains on the revenues of our communities;

3. Our denunciation of the blatant contradictions between the Government's speeches advocating dialogue and consultation, and the actions which result in unilateral decisions with dramatic consequences for the entire French territorial fabric;

4. Our alert on the devastating impacts for the departments, which will be asphyxiated, thus aggravating the difficulties of the municipalities, and endangering essential public policies;

5. Our demand for an immediate review of these decisions, respectful of local realities;

6. Our call for the mobilization of all elected officials to recall that communities are essential partners of the State and not targets of budget cuts.

Finally, we reaffirm that local authorities are the guarantors of a local public service, efficient and adapted to the needs of the population. Weakening the power of action of municipalities and intercommunities, stifling departments means risking recession in which we will, despite ourselves, be the main actors.

For these reasons, the Association of Mayors and Elected Officials of Lot and the Association of Rural Mayors of Lot express their firm and categorical opposition to these measures and call for the opening of a constructive dialogue.

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