The municipality wishes to recover the said skills, which currently belong to the Sivu (Intercommunal Union with a single vocation) of South Minervois. Sallèles would like to get out, believing that his financial contribution is too important given the lack of investment from Sivu in the municipality.
Saturday November 23 will be voting day in Sallèles d'Aude. All the usual offices will open their doors, while tellers and assessors will be mobilized. However, no “traditional” election in sight. The people of Sallélo will be able to take part that day in a citizen consultation, aimed at determining whether they want the commune to leave the Sivu (single-purpose intercommunal union) of South Minervois or continue to be part of it, as is the case. case currently. In question is the continuation or not of membership of Cias (Intercommunal Social Action Center), managing in particular children and early childhood (canteen, etc.), or home help (households, etc.). An unusual approach driven by Mayor Yves Bastié… who for his part has no shortage of arguments in favor of leaving.
The councilor intends to convince his constituents of the merits of his intention, in order to be followed by his population and to have greater influence when the procedure is initiated (read elsewhere). The main reason why the chief magistrate wants to move away from Sivu is financial. “Every year, the people of Sallélo suffer continuous increases in their property tax at the union column level”he explains. The elected official makes the corollary between this observation and the fact that “no investment is planned in the municipality”believing that the overall effort of the village taxpayers does not benefit them: Sivu du Sud Minervois has a total of eleven municipalities.
Services or investments?
The financial participation of the Sallélois would have reached a milestone following the vote for a change in the status of Sivu, continues Yves Bastié. “As the law prohibits a Sivu from having a deficit budget, member municipalities are now required to provide financial assistance in proportion to their wealth”. Sallèles would take part in the contribution via the four taxes: built and unbuilt land, housing and CET (ex professional tax). His municipality being the largest in the sector, the mayor considers here again that his participation is disproportionate to the real involvement of the Union in Sallèles. “Between 2021 and 2023, i.e. in three years, this share from Halle rose to 2,400,000 euros”.
“The operation of Sivu does exist in the communeindicates the first magistrate. Investments, however, are absent”. For several years now, elected officials from Sall have expressed their doubts about the situation and choices of Sivu and more especially of Cias: in June 2024, they mobilized with residents to denounce the planned move of the crèche to Saint-Nazaire d 'Aude, project currently on hold. Still, Christian Lapalu, the president of Sivu du Sud Minervois, affirms for his part that the participation of Halle is fair, and not excessive. “Sallèles being the largest municipality in our territory, it has a greater need and benefits from all the services of Sivu”he summarizes, thereby emphasizing that the amount received by Sivu is also found in its daily services, and not only in potential structuring investments.
This ou pas this?
Moreover, Christian Lapalu points out the choice of Sallèles d'Aude to make this contribution borne by taxpayers alone. “All the other municipalities that are part of Sivu allocate part of their main budget to this financial effort: Sallèles is the only one to tax it 100%”. The president puts this decision into perspective with the sum that Greater Narbonne would pay to Sallèles as compensation, as owner of the Truilhas activity zone. “This represents more than 600,000 euros per year. It is the municipality which is richer, not its taxpayers”.
But Yves Bastié persists and signs. The councilor even speaks of a Cias “over-indebted”putting forward in this respect a document taking stock of a meeting dated February 26, 2024 on which is written in particular: “We are in a situation of cessation of payments with a working capital of less than one month”. Christian Lapalu reassures: “All the budgets have been voted on, our Cias now has more than 300 agents who ensure the execution of the services provided in the eleven municipalities concerned. This is not money wasted!”
Pour However, Yves Bastié does not budge: in his eyes, Sallèles and the Sallélois serve above all to pay off the debts of Cias. “What amounts will be requested in the years to come? That’s what scares me! I don’t want my constituents to pay for the mistakes of others for years!” In short, two visions oppose each other: the consultation of November 23 will at least make it possible to know which direction the Sallélois lean towards.
What will happen?
The vote of the Sallélois will not alone decide their departure from Sivu du Sud Minervois and Cias. “A vote of two-thirds of the member municipalities is required”recalls Christian Lapalu. Yves Bastié knows this, and has no illusions: “The others will never accept it, given the financial stakes.” This is why the elected official is already considering an administrative appeal in the event of failure of the “normal” route, and it is in this case that potential support from the population will be important.
“It’s not just about wanting to leave, you also have to calculate how much these services would costhowever, notes Christian Lapalu. Because in the end, someone will have to pay! As far as I am concerned, I am not penalizing any municipality, any resident of the territory. But I'm afraid that the Sallélois will take a big blow to the head…”
“Of course, all services will be maintained”assures the Halle municipality. And the mayor added that “it would even cost us less”emphasizing that other municipalities in the territory such as Marcorignan, Ouveillan or Cuxac in particular, have chosen to retain social competence.
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