More than a million euros in losses, recourse to borrowing… the budget of the Hérault Méditerranée agglomeration constrained by the 2025 finance bill

If several French regions and departments, including that of Hérault, have already sounded the alarm concerning their financial situation after the State's announcements concerning the 2025 finance bill, at the level below, that of the public establishments of intercommunal cooperation (EPCI), the agglomerations to be clearer, we are also involved.

This is the meaning of the message that we are sending to the elected representatives of the Hérault Méditerranée urban community at the start of the week in Florensac, during a plenary assembly during which Stéphane Pépin-Bonet, mayor of Bessan and great treasurer of the community, presented the budgetary orientation report, prior to the vote on the 2025 budget, in December.

Targeted local authorities

As we said, the CAHM will also be called upon to redress (a little) the country's accounts. The State, which relied on a report from the Court of Auditors to justify this drain from local authorities, notably pointing out personnel costs which have increased too much, investment expenditures which are not sufficiently targeted and a desired improvement in level of purchasing pooling. But as the State has not yet adopted its budget for next year, that of the Agglo “was developed on the basis communicated by the government, knowing that this is still evolving as I speak to you”President Sébastien Frey explained to us at the start of the week. “Our guidelines are based on binding forecasts and maximum constraints”just to avoid any unpleasant surprises in the coming months.

Recourse to borrowing rather than raising taxes

The Agglo can count on a budget which will be around 92 million euros (69 million in operation, 23 million in investment, repayment of debt capital included) in 2025. With a State which will pay a sum equivalent to the level of its overall operating allocation (8.08 million euros), “but which takes more from a revenue perspective”adds Sébastien Frey who, with other community elected officials, made arbitrations to present a balanced budget. In total, between the various very technical drains made by the State, the loss will be 1.1 million euros to the investment section, to which is added a recourse to borrowing increased by 1.23 million euros. euros. “The investment will in fact be financed more by borrowing than in previous years”confirms the president, the community having made the decision not to activate the tax lever a little more.

The commune, the Agglo, “poles of stability” for Frey

Investment, which is somewhat the sinews of war in the territory, will still remain substantial, on the basis of that of 2023, to the tune of 16.7 million euros devoted to equipment expenditure (read Moreover). Consequently, in operation, “we imposed savings”recognizes Sébastien Frey. Efforts which will in any case be the norm in the coming years. “The State is subjecting the regions and departments to a level of budgetary constraints never seen before! The departments are the most affected, but the regions are also in difficulty. I think that the 36,000 French municipalities and the intermunicipalities now constitute the center of stability of public action.”