The finances of the City of Neuchâtel are improving, but remain in the red. The Municipal Council unveiled its 2025 budget on Wednesday morning. It has a deficit of 8.7 million francs. The excess charges amounted to 9.1 million when forecasts for 2024. For next year, no withdrawal from the economic reserve is planned.
The executive underlines that the 2025 budget “is part of the continuity of an ambitious public policy and balanced and sustainable management”. The municipal councilor in charge of finances describes it as “rather encouraging” and emphasizes “that it is focused on services in favor of the population and in particular families. » Jonathan Gretillat notes “the continuation of the MAÉ deployment and an increase in reception structures for families. » For municipal staff, salaries will increase by 1.4%.
Conversely, the budget is worsened by the increase in transfer costs to the tune of 5.3 million. “Amounts which do not depend on our direct control, which we owe to other communities, to the Canton or to intercommunal unions,” explains Jonathan Gretillat.
Jonathan Gretillat further specifies that expenses are increasing (371.6 million francs, +5.3% compared to the 2024 budget), but more slowly than the increase in income (362.9 million francs, +5.5% compared to the 2024 budget). report to the 2024 budget).
The good economic situation for 2023/2024 allows municipal authorities to envisage an increase in tax revenue of around 7.4 million francs (+4 million for taxes on individuals and +3.4 million for legal entities). ). As for the debt, it is increasing and should stand at 666 million at the end of 2025.
Maximum investment ceiling almost reached
The 2025 budget of the City of Neuchâtel provides for 48.1 million francs of investments, while the maximum ceiling that the Municipality can commit is 50 million. Money intended mainly for infrastructure and buildings. “The vast majority of these investments, 80% of them, are credits which have already been voted on by the General Council,” explains Jonathan Gretillat. And to cite as an example “the water, the roads, the wastewater treatment plant, but also the sanitation of colleagues, in particular that of the Parks which will be completed next year. In terms of territorial development, we can talk about the continuation of work on Jeunes-Rives, the redevelopment of Place de la Fontaine in Peseux or even projects in Serrières and Portes-Rouges which will contribute to developing the Commune.”
The 2025 budget of the City of Neuchâtel will be processed by the General Council on December 9. /jpp
Swiss
