This is the first measure that the Department of Meurthe-et-Moselle is taking to try to maintain its budget in 2025. And it is important.
Since 1is January, the departmental council no longer pays recipients of the personalized autonomy allowance (APA) at home assistance for teleassistance services (alarms for single people) and meal delivery assistance.
In 2024, this aid would be received by 2,900 people. They represented an expense of €100,000 for the Department for home delivery of meals and €400,000 for remote assistance.
“Preserve the essentials”
In a letter addressed to these beneficiaries, Catherine Boursier, vice-president of the departmental council in charge of Autonomy (38 million euros in the APA home budget for 2024), justifies this decision by the fact that “like all departments », Meurthe-et-Moselle is faced with “a growth in expenditure at a sustained rate between social needs, inflation, but also and above all numerous government decisions which are not financed”.
The elected official adds that the Department, led by the left, must anticipate because it faces “a lack of government response” and that it wishes to “preserve the essential, namely human aid which makes it possible to support essential actions of the daily lives of our elders.
Do beneficiaries have recourse to avoid losing this aid? The departmental council invites them to contact the municipal social action centers (CCAS) in their sector.
The Department also indicates, in its letter, that “teleassistance and home meal delivery entitle you to a tax credit of up to 50%”. In short: the municipalities and the State can also put their hands in their pockets.
-“Shameful decision”
For an elected official close to the matter, this announcement is difficult to swallow. “For us, people of the left, touching the solidarity budget is hard to accept,” he confides.
For the opposition of the right and the center, this decision is a “humiliation towards those who, throughout their lives, have worked, participated through their commitment of their volunteer work to the life of society, have accompanied well often their children and grandchildren, and aspire to enjoy a peaceful life.”
“It is a shameful decision when at the same time, the president of the Department, Chaynesse Khirouni, and her majority decide on new expenses which consist of allocating without compensation, the youth emancipation income (€500 per month), and welcome unaccompanied minors. We demand the annulment of this decision,” belches the opposition.
50 million to find
The Meurthe-et-Moselle departmental council must vote on its budget at the end of March. To complete it, he must save 50 million euros. According to our information, all sectors are called upon to make an effort, such as childhood and colleges.
