Lyon. A decision by Michel Barnier (which is expensive) shakes the walls of the town hall

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The walls of Lyon city hall shook this weekend at the announcement of the 2025 budget presented by Michel Barnier’s government. Between new tax increases and decisions to save on spending, the State will also take money from the coffers of local authorities.

At least 5 billion euros to be found urgently

In total in France, 5 billion euros will be requested from communities (Regions, departments, intermunicipalities and municipalities).

The communities even estimate the total amount of the effort at 9.5 billion euros, taking into account in particular the effects of inflation and the 1.5 billion cut in the green fund. A decision decided by the new Prime Minister which is causing a storm in many town halls in France. In Greater Lyon, the municipality of Lyon, Villeurbanne or even Vénissieux are concerned among 450 large communities in France.

The City and Metropolis of Lyon hit hard

For the City of Lyon, several million euros will go to the general state budget. “The country has been poorly managed for seven years, and today we are blaming the communities, which is totally unfair and is economic nonsense,” lamented Grégory Doucet, the environmentalist mayor of Lyon, quoted by France 3 this Friday.

In Bordeaux, the city also led by an environmentalist mayor, Michel Barnier’s decision will represent 8 to 10 million euros less next year.

The Lyon Metropolis, for its part, already facing financial problems to complete its latest budget, will have to sit on 50 to 70 million euros in 2025, according to its president Bruno Bernard. The community which combines metropolitan and departmental powers should be the most affected in France ahead of Aix-Marseille (21.9 million euros), Bordeaux Métropole (16.4 million), Strasbourg (14.6), Toulouse (13.9 ), Nantes (11.1) or Nice (9.9 million), according to estimates from the Intercommunalités de France association of elected officials.

Enough to provoke annoyance and anger in Bruno Bernard:

Should we close college canteens? Should Ephads be closed? Should we stop helping with thermal insulation? Should we stop paying RSA? We can look but these are only measures against the French which are proposed by the government.

A “real dialogue” requested from the government

Minister Catherine Vautrin, in charge of Partnership with the territories and Decentralization of France, traveling to Lyon at the Urban France Congress to speak to local elected officials, took responsibility for the measure, promising that “fragile communities” will not be not affected.

Will the City and the Metropolis have to abandon projects, make more savings or increase taxes? Decisions, which could be painful, are coming…

The two elected officials from Lyon intend in any case to put pressure on the government. 44 mayors and presidents of large cities and metropolises signed a forum in West France in order to request a “real dialogue” on the measure which continues to cause tensions.

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