“A decline in our capacity for action”

“By the power of the symbol of canceling these wishes in the face of a difficult budgetary context, I made the choice of the power of words”. This Friday, January 17, the president of the Aude departmental council Hélène Sandragné addressed the Audois to celebrate the new year. A year 2025 which promises to be difficult, faced with an economic crisis which seems critical at the moment: “Between the current situation and government policies, we are facing an irremediable decline in our capacity for action. Revenues are falling and expenses are increasing, in spite of us, and even against us”she seriously explained.

The cause in particular is the real estate crisis which has led to a drop in transfers for consideration, representing a loss of 25 million euros over the last two years. Also in question, the increase in constrained spending “without action possible. We pay the individual solidarity allowance. But as the situation deteriorates, the cost of solidarity increases”. The total cost of solidarity allowances amounts to 80 million euros, between the RSA, and benefits for people with disabilities kept at home “because there is a lack of space in public institutions”.

A due assessment, explained Hélène Sandragné, “to infantilizing relations with the State. The current president has something to do with it but more generally, this situation is the result of transfers of powers to communities without giving them the financial and fiscal autonomy to deal with it”.

A situation that the president intends to change: “The Departments must regain their autonomy. Expenses must be compensated as long as they do not depend on the choice of elected officials”. A wish for 2025?