Ardèche: the president of the Departmental Council puts the prefecture up for sale

Blue down jacket, Olivier Amrane hangs a sign “for sale, 3.5 million euros” on the gate of the prefecture hotel. “Now that’s enough.”says the president of the Departmental Council. As for other communities, the government, in search of savings, wants to take part of the budget of the Department of Ardèche. “To fill the deficit left by Emmanuel Macron, We are asking the Department for a financial effort of almost 20 million euros, that is out of the question.”continues Olivier Amrane (LR). To make an impression, he therefore chose to put the prefecture hotel, owned by the department, up for sale. He also presented a rent receipt to reception: 500,000 euros for the last ten years (4,000 per month).

“I'm going to save money on the state's lifestyle, it is hosted free of charge by the departmental community”said the president of the Department. “We can say that I found four million euros out of the 20 requested by state services”. On the Drôme side too, the president of the Departmental Council Marie-Pierre Mouton is asking the government for fewer budget cuts. Originally, the finance bill provided for more than 5 billion euros in savings for communities. But on Friday, on France Bleu, Prime Minister Michel Barnier promised a reduction in the effort required of the departments.

“The State invests 390 million euros per year in Ardèche” recalls the prefect

A little annoyed by this demonstration, the prefect of Ardèche recalled the sums invested each year by the State in the form of subsidies, aid to municipalities or even financing of the 29 “France Service” houses. “It’s a bad signal sent to the people of Ardèche” comments the prefect of Ardèche Sophie Elizéon. ” Because if the prefecture is no longer welcomed, it will no longer be able to provide the public services it provides, first of all. And then incidentally it is not a good signal towards all the State agents in this department who have a great sense of public service and who deploy all their energy in the service of this territory by being hosted in the premises designated as being put up for sale. “