Financial difficulties and budgetary orientations, the difficult equation of a departmental council for 2025

This Monday, January 20, the local authority's projects for the year 2025 were presented by Jean-Marc Roze, LR president of the Marne department, from the Hôtel du Département in Châlons-en-Champagne. Despite the budgetary difficulties already announced, Marne is trying to reassure about the continuity of its actions.

As announced at the end of 2024, the budget looks gloomy. No greetings ceremony this year, the announcements for 2025 are made around a table with 3 elected officials, President Jean-Marc Roze in the center. Even in these times of scarcity, the department intends to focus on its role as guarantor of solidarity and on its essential missions such as child protection.

This is the department’s top priority. The States General on Child Protection, launched in 2024, continues to guarantee the protection and support of 1,669 children in care and 250 unaccompanied minors.

With freight increasing by 20% compared to 2023 and passenger traffic increasing by 25% in 2024. The President of the department announces that he wants to continue to develop freight, particularly to China.

To support this development, a new ZAC is announced for Vatry. 362 hectares. In the communes of Sommesous and Haussimont. The aim is to create a “hub” to develop the multimodal platform and diversify its activities (logistics, industries and services).

President Roze also announces an increase in training flights by 6%. Good results to which Vatry had not accustomed us.

For the first time, the Marne department will have a stand at the International Agricultural Show which will take place at Porte de Versailles from February 22 to March 2. The opportunity to highlight its local producers through its various brands Made in Marne, Bienvenue à la ferme and Foire de Châlons.

Less revenue for more spending, Marne announces that it is in the red. Temporary and structural constraints are weighing down the departmental budget. The real estate crisis and the increase in charges imposed by the State without compensation are highlighted (+ 50 million Euros since 2021), the explosion of social spending (+ 17 million Euros in 1 year). In addition, with the state budget for 2025 still not voted on, local authorities are facing many uncertainties.

As a great balancer of figures, President Jean-Marc Roze aims for stability for this year: “The 2025 budget will provide us with a small savings of 20 million of Euros if there are no additional charges in the 2025 Finance Law Plan. This net budget of 20 million would allow us to repay our credits but in a net situation we would end the year at zero, which would not does not allow us to invest in our colleges, our departmental roads and to properly help small or medium-sized communities. ”

And if new projects emerge during the year, how would the department undertake them without room for maneuver? The president responds “Except for going into debt, this is not the case for Marne which is a department with very little debt, but if we had to invest for compulsory expenses, we would be obliged to go into debt but how would we repay? ”