A “responsible” budget of more than one billion euros for the Gard Department

Le budget primitif a été adopté par l’assemblée départementale. Conseil départemental du Gard

La séance publique du conseil départemental du Gard de ce vendredi 10 janvier en matinée a permis de faire un point sur les dépenses obligatoires et les projets pour 2025.

The Gard departmental council adopted this Friday, January 10, in the morning, the 2025 preliminary budget which balances at €1.25 billion. The elected representatives of the Republican Common Sense party, on the right, and those of the UDI, in the center, abstained and the National Rally voted against. “It is a fair, united and ambitious budget that leaves no one behind”, declared Françoise Laurent-Perrigot.

A combative president who did not hide the fact that there is also a hunt for savings in all areas “to adapt to uncertainties, faced with the considerable drop in our revenues and the increase in our compulsory expenditure imposed by the State and we have no fiscal lever”. Clearly, the compensatory measures are long overdue… “Despite political instability, local authorities like ours must guarantee the continuity of public service”, summed up budget rapporteur Rémi Nicolas.

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Possible adjustments in June and October

President Laurent-Perrigot recalled the possible budgetary adjustments thanks to the amending decisions of June and October. For the major investment items, amounting to €126 million, it should be noted that certain sectors take the lion's share, such as roads, mobility (€37.5 million), colleges (€20 million), water and the enhancement of natural heritage (€18.7 million), the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (€5.9 million), territorial contracts (€8.1 million), the energy transition (€7.2 million) or the construction and rehabilitation of EHPADs (€3.9 million).

One billion euros will be devoted to operations, the largest share of which, €576 million in total, is captured by the solidarity component “to support and accompany those who need it most”.

Thus, more than €230 million will be allocated to the elderly and disabled, €196 million for integration into the employment service, to name just a few examples. Still in the operating section, €123.2 million will be injected to “protect health and our quality of life” and nearly €57 million “to connect people and territories”. €502 million will enable the operation of public services and equipment.

A “responsible” budget

This budget considered “responsible”, the result of “rigorous and effective management”for the departmental majority, has raised questions in the ranks of the right. For the Republican Common Sense, Valérie Meunier from Alès recalled “that Gard remains the 5th poorest department in France, its population is aging. […] You talk about savings, deep cuts, but which areas will this concern ? Which associations will see their subsidies decrease ?”

Valérie Meunier also noted “the sharp increase in debt repayment capacity” and the decrease in self-financing capacity. “Citizens need to be reassured and have a clear vision from the departmental council”, she added.

Philippe Ribot, from the UDI, noted the increase in the solidarity budget and the decrease in the budget devoted to youth, culture and sports. He noted the amount of more than €10 million for the care of unaccompanied minors, deploring the lack of details, despite his group's requests, on the reception and monitoring of these minors.

“This budget will allow us to keep the course of the commitments made despite the insufficiency of the State's resources”, commented Robert Crauste, president of the Territoires Citoyens group. Christian Bastid (Communist group) stressed the financial effort on the solidarity sector, a necessity according to the elected official “because it must not be sacrificed on the altar of austerity”. The Department was keen to take up the challenge.