The debates on the 2025 budgetary guidelines in the face of the government's financial crisis were eventful this Monday, November 18. According to the majority, investments will be able to hold, in particular thanks to the city's debt reduction.
On the menu of this municipal council on Monday, November 18, the debates on the 2025 budgetary orientations. According to the estimates of the technical team, the effort of 8.7 billion euros requested from the communities by the government of Michel Barnier to recover the country and bailing out the national debt means for Valencia to lose 2.5 million euros in revenue, according to the 2025 financing law plan still under study.
Despite this calculation, “we don't touch anything“, declares the mayor and delegate minister Nicolas Daragon (LR) concerning the City's projects during his mandate. Neither the 2025 investments of which more than €14 million are linked to roads and soft mobility, nor the loan of around €8 M€ envisaged to rehabilitate schools, nor the tax rate of Valentinois, nor “quality” public services whose expenditure “will be contained” should therefore not be impacted. The good news displayed by the majority “So good together” being the works “massive” of debt reduction undertaken in 2014. Enough to reduce it, according to its estimates, to €47 million by the end of the year, compared to more than €64 million ten years ago. “The operating budget remains under control“, “and the overall operating allocation, I think, will stabilize in 2025“, reports deputy Nathalie Iliozer, finance assistant. Adding that the self-financing share is €10 million in 2024.
But in the room, after a report on sustainable development, making the majority proud, the minds of the advisors of the different oppositions are heating up on the policy pursued in terms of investments.
“Greenwashing” and “docility of the mayor”
Concerning the number of planted trees displayed (numbering 10,000 according to the report), the bicycle plan, the sorting of organic waste and the rehabilitation of schools, the advisors criticize in turn “an alignment of figures without any real desire for transformation“, or even “greenwashing“. Where the mayor explains that he is continuing the PLU already voted on and committed to. And for the extinction of public lighting at night? He replies that the transition to LEDs is taking place “gradually“, that delinquency (declining according to its figures)”does not increase at night but in the early evening“. As for the new bullet-proof windows of the town hall questioned by Bruno Casari because they would come before the safety of the residents, these would be a continuation of the improvement of the premises of the various public services in the city.
But it is also “docility” of the mayor to comply with the demands of the State which is criticized by Jimmy Levacher. To which the councilor replies: “To refuse the national effort is to increase our own deficit.” And as explained earlier: “Yes, he said it [nationale, N.D.L.R.] is not repaid, interest rates increase, there is no self-financing and no possibility of borrowing.” A speech that he also says he supports during the Congress of Mayors currently underway this Monday.
So many debates which for the moment remain estimates without the validation of the government text in the Senate.
