A 2025 budget placed “under the sign of caution” in Bagnols-sur-Cèze due to political and economic uncertainties

Le conseil municipale a duré près de trois heures. Midi Libre – C.L.

Le maire de Bagnols a présenté le rapport d'orientation budgétaire mercredi 19 décembre en conseil municipal. Il a fait le choix d'avoir une vision prospective "plus que pessimiste" avant le vote qui aura lieu le 5 février.

The last municipal council of the year was held on Wednesday, December 18, at the multicultural hall in Bagnols-sur-Cèze. A minute of silence was observed as a preamble to pay tribute to the victims of Cyclone Chido, which devastated the Mayotte archipelago. There were 50 deliberations on the agenda, including the presentation of the 2025 budget orientation report (ROB), which comes before the vote on the initial budget. “We don't know where we're going because the national political situation is currently more than volatile,” says Mayor Jean-Yves Chapelet. I am presenting the ROB now because, for reasons of financial commitments, I want to vote on the budget in February. We therefore had to hold the budget orientation debate now, but as long as the 2025 finance bill is not adopted by the National Assembly, we will be in uncertainty.”

No tax increases

At the time of writing the report, Michel Barnier's government had not yet been overthrown. “We have chosen to have a forward-looking vision that appears more than pessimistic, adds the mayor. We accept it, it is a way for us to be as reasonable as possible in an unstable world.” The 2025 budget will thus be placed under the sign of “prudence” with a desire to preserve gross savings, which represents the self-financing capacity of the municipality, between 2.5 and 3 million euros. No increase in tax rates is planned. The envelope dedicated to subsidies for associations (around 700,000 euros in 2024) will be maintained.

Despite the context, the municipality affirms its desire to continue its structuring projects (covering of the middle basin of the swimming pool, balance of the Pyramid, implementation of a specific road plan, etc.). These investments will be part of the Multi-Year Investment Plan (PPI) which runs until 2026. “The PPI covers 30 million euros for the entire term of office. It will be updated when the 2025 initial budget is voted on”, the mayor said.

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A debt repayment capacity that “could deteriorate”

The amount of the community's debt is projected at 21.3 million euros at the end of 2024, “the second lowest level after 2023”. On the other hand, debt repayment capacity “could deteriorate to 11 years” as of December 31. “This is indeed a projection and not a reality, recalls Jean-Yves Chapelet. The 2024 administrative account will give us certainty on these figures which must now be approached with great caution.” Opposition councillor Jérôme Jackel reacted: “We are going from a debt repayment capacity of 5.6 to 11.8 years. The vigilance threshold is between 10 and 11 years and the critical threshold between 11 and 12 years. We can also see that our savings are going down the drain and going from 3.6 to 1.8 million euros. We tend to borrow more and more. This is alarming. If gross savings fall back to 1 million euros, that's 25 years of debt! We'll have to be careful and not bite off more than we can chew.” To which the mayor retorted:“I don't have eyes bigger than my stomach, I don't have that pretension. I know the budgetary functioning of the town hall well. I repeat that I have just presented the ROB, we have made deliberately pessimistic forecasts, we have hidden nothing.”

Thierry Vincent, elected opposition member, also spoke: “Without being alarmist, we must be extremely vigilant. The debt repayment capacity could be even more pessimistic and this could ultimately lead to a reduction in self-financing capacity.” The mayor replied “not to worry”. “See you again at the time of the budget vote and the administrative account.” Appointment made on February 5, at the multicultural room.

Ephemeral shops, a new commercial zone…

1. A desire to install pop-up stores all year round

The municipal council unanimously approved the launch of pop-up stores all year round "to consolidate local commercial activity". The streets of République and Fernand-Crémieux, the places Mallet and du Posterlon, the boulevard Théodore-Lacombe and the avenue Paul-Langevin are concerned by this system. The municipality will rent commercial premises, located on the defined commercial circuit, from the owners. It will then sublet them to project leaders wishing to test a commercial activity for a short period (one year maximum). These holders will pay the town hall the charges for the premises (water, electricity, household waste) and a progressive rent of 200 euros for the first six months and 400 euros for the following six months. “Maintaining and developing downtown commerce is inherent to the successful revitalization of the area”, underlines Justine Rouquairol, the municipal councilor delegated to commercial revitalization. The amount allocated to this system, included in the 2024 budget, amounts to € 17,000 per year.

2. Work to secure a future commercial zone

A future commercial zone should see the light of day on the edge of the Saint-Gervais road, at the level of the zone belonging to the Blancher group. The municipality will undertake work to develop a left-turn intersection on the RD980“to secure the entry and exit movements of the said area as well as the pedestrian and cycle paths, along the departmental road." The works are located on the departmental public domain, and are therefore subject to the authorization of the Gard departmental council. Thus, the municipal council voted unanimously to sign an agreement for the temporary occupation of the public domain between the City and the departmental council for the carrying out of these works.

3. A communal space in place of the former Aldi

The municipality will acquire the plot of land with an area of ​​3,686 m2 where the former ALDI store was located, located at 33 avenue de la Mayre, for a price of 600,000 euros. This plot will make it possible to create a new communal space intended to accommodate associations that currently use rooms A, B, C and D located next to the Pyramid.

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