Gard The budget is invited into the community council debates

The budget was the hot topic on everyone's lips at the community council in the multicultural room on Monday, November 25. In the preamble, it was explained that the EPCI “comprising at least one municipality of more than 3,500 inhabitants must organize a debate on the general orientations of the initial budget within two months preceding its examination”. Guy Aubanel, in his capacity as 6th deputy vice-president for finance and management control, notably discussed the finances of communities, reporting on them, according to a report from the Court of Auditors on local public finances 2024 “a need for financing by communities due to the acceleration of expenditure and the slowdown of revenue”.

As mentioned in the annex to the document transmitted, “community operating revenues, i.e. 252 billion euros, have slowed (3.4% compared to +5.2% in 2022 at constant scope). Furthermore, expenses have also been revised upwards: “+6.1% versus +5% in 2022 at constant scope”. Positive point addressed: “The communities, however, maintain a healthy financial situation”, once again clarifies the appendix to question 5, putting forward a significant figure: “In 2023, their financial debt (€187.6 billion) continued to decline in relation to GDP (to 6.7%).” Finally, in connection with the public finance programming law for 2023-2027, a reduction in expenditure of 0.5% is planned.

Apprentice jobs under threat?

“Our goal is to develop the territorial policy project, without touching on taxation”, wanted to reassure the president of the Gard Rhodanien agglomeration Jean-Christian Rey, concerned that the accounts remain in the green. However, the economic setback, linked to still high inflation in Gard and in France, could also have harmful repercussions on employment. At this stage, 50 young people are under the status of apprentices in the Gard Rhodanien territory. These positions could be eliminated, as feared by Jean-Christian Rey, who recognized that the question of the budget raised “a lot of uncertainties”: “If it does not change the way they do things, we risk eliminating apprenticeship jobs in 2025”he reports.

Among the other subjects raised on the agenda, one of them also caught the attention of the opposition, “the allocation of aid to traders impacted by the development work.” Councilman Bernard Nass asked if “Was the duration of the work still going to be long or not?” What Jean-Christian Rey has answered, in consultation with Valère Segal: “There is no completion date but we are nearing the end. There will be no more major work”.

In terms of subsidies, the members of the community council of the Gard Rhodanien agglomeration approved an allocation of an amount of 2,000 euros to the parent associations of the Gard Rhodanien conservatory for the year 2024. other in favor of the association “Le Lions Club Bagnols Val de Cèze” as part of the Challenge Casse-Cailloux 2024 (Editor's note: running and cycling races to raise funds for disability).

Finally, two other grants were validated: 1,000 euros for the town of Pont-Saint-Esprit, as part of the 2024-City Policy call for projects and aid of 1,500 euros to the Cèzâme Mutual Aid Group in as part of the organization of Mental Health Information Week 2024.

The next community council meeting has been set for December 16 with the vote on the budget.