“A lot of contempt”, “mediocre ideology”… Albigensian elected officials are torn apart over the budget vote

If everyone constantly reminded us of the uncertainty that hangs over France’s budgetary policy, it is rather the next municipal elections that all the members of the municipal council had in the back of their minds. The budget vote gave rise to a debate over who loved the Albigensians more.

An initial budget of €103.9 million

The budget, presented by Roland Gilles, the big financier, was not really discussed in the debates. However, with 32 pages of summary, one can imagine that there were figures to debate. For 2025, the initial budget amounts to €103.9 million (€71.2 million in operation and €32.7 million in investment).

Elected officials voted to maintain tax rates. Taxes are expected to remain relatively stable, with bases expected to increase by only 1.2% according to the announced figure. The associative world will see its subsidies renewed at the same total as in 2024: €4.9 million. The city continues its investment effort to the tune of €21.8 million (renovation of schools, extension of the Jean-Jaurès gymnasium, construction of a stand in Mazicou, creation of the Lapérouse space, etc.). To finance them, a budget line of €13.5 million has been included. Finally, the city plans a reserve of €4 million to help reduce the public deficit while awaiting the future budget of the Bayrou government. That’s the main points.

“Precipitous choices”

Frédéric Cabrolier (RN) denounced the increase in tax pressure: + 33% in ten years and the increase in the number of agents (+ 33 compared to 2024). André Boudes (PCF) criticized liberal politics and capitalism and regretted that subsidies to associations do not take into account inflation. The left-wing opposition denounced the state of the country linked to the policies of President Macron, supported according to it by Stéphanie Guiraud-Chaumeil.

The elected representatives of the citizens’ collective (left), who had requested the postponement of the vote while awaiting that of France, regretted “hasty choices”, and the absence of bases on which the budget is based. “We are in a situation of major uncertainty,” underlined Jean-Laurent Tonicello, while Nathalie Ferrand-Lefranc outlined, for her part, what their budget would be: a budget to transform the city in order to face climate change. , which would meet the needs of the existing before creating a new museum. She called for “good use of public money”.

“Disappointing spectacle”

Comments which did not please the 1st deputy, Michel Franques who denounced the “mediocre ideology” of the opposition and regretted “this distressing spectacle”. “I deplore your behavior, I do not respect it. This is not our conception of democracy.”

For him, this budget “meeting the challenges” is “for the Albigensians”. These Albigensians that the majority love. Like the city! “Not sure what is shared by everyone,” he slipped.

Christophe Mendygal protested against “this caricature” and saw in it “a lot of contempt for an opposition which opposes” and which believes “in other choices”. He also made a declaration of love to the Albigensians and to the city.

To conclude, the mayor, Stéphanie Guiraud-Chaumeil recalled that in this period, the responsibility of elected officials is to “guarantee stability and reassure the Albigensians”. For her, this “conscious budget meets expectations”.