Budget 2025: the mayors of Charente-Maritime demonstrate in La Rochelle against an imposed austerity cure

The mayors of Charente-Maritime know it: they risk having financial difficulties to manage next year. The 2025 state budget, currently under discussion between the Senate and the National Assembly, announces this. We know that the government of Michel Barnier imposes a serious austerity cure. It will involve a reduction in allocations to local authorities, already deprived of the housing tax abolished by Emmanuel Macron. The consequences for their communities are significant. So they demonstrate, this Thursday noon, in front of the prefecture in La Rochelle.

Mayors will have to abandon some of their projects

Mayors have the obligation to present a balanced budget: as much expenditure as revenue. In Rochefort, Mayor LR Hervé Blanché believes that the State will cut its allocations of 600,000 euros minimum. “It’s important, 600,000 euros, he sighs. Because we will have to find money elsewhere. I do not want to increase the property tax. We are looking closely at retirements and recruitments. But we need staff to carry out projects! So we're going to arbitrate: which project has priority over the other?”

With his team, he will spend the next few weeks to scrutinize the details of expenses from the town of Rochefort. “If I have to choose between giving funds to develop businesses and adding trails for running, it will be done quickly: I will help businesses, explains Hervé Blanché. Between cycle paths and school meals, we will maintain assistance to pay for the children's canteen.”

“This budget scares all the mayors, says Jacky Quesson, president of the Association of Mayors of France in Charente-Maritime and mayor of Saint-Genis-de-Saitonge where 1,300 people live. But it particularly scares the mayors of small towns.” A few hundred euros can already have major consequences in rural areas. According to him, the room for maneuver is very low for mayors: “There is no question of increasing taxes. If we increase the property tax, we will be cut off because we are dealing with citizens who have very limited means.” Ways to save money have already been explored in these rural communities. “We have already tightened the bolts everywherehe assures. With these announcements I fear the 2025 budget”. And the risk, according to Jacky Quesson, is that in a year and a half, few rural mayors intend to renew their mandate.

Jacky Quesson is the organizer of the rally planned for this Thursday noon in front of the prefecture. He calls on the mayors of the entire department to come with his blue, white and red scarf. He recalls that local authorities only represent 8% of the French deficitwhilethey carry 60% of public investment.