Claude Revel: “I'm not a fan of tax increases”

Il est important aussi de maintenir et de soutenir l’activité des entreprises. JM – JM

Le point sur les projets du Clermontais pour 2025 avec Claude Revel, président de la Com Com du Clermontais.

We know the international, national and even departmental context is complicated. Are you planning a strict budget knowing that in 2022, faced with galloping inflation, you had optimized operating costs and frozen service rates ?

It is certain that the national context does not make us want to invest. When we see France's debt, it is a bit scary. Automatically, by ricochet, the effort will be transferred to the communities: regions, departments and communities of communes. But I think we should not panic. I have always tried to manage the interco and “my commune” (of Canet) as a good father, as an enlightened manager. We have never taken any unconsidered risks. All this because I am not a fan of increasing taxes. I find it so easy to say: “We spend and we will get the money from the taxpayer. When we can't, we increase…” That is not my philosophy. It may be difficult, but I always try to calculate my investments and my operation without arriving at the tax increase. I find that the French are already so bludgeoned. I am in favor of rigorous management but which allows us to maintain a quality service to the population. This is my working method: my departments know it. We try, in all departments, to manage as best we can by recruiting as little as possible while providing the service to the population.

Is the payroll important at the CCC ?

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Yes, it amounts to nearly €13.40 million in 2024. And this will change in 2025 since there is an increase of more than 4.5%: 3% mandatory to which must be added 1% mechanical increase. As we are still in the dark about State grants, we must tighten further. We have reduced investments. We have not cancelled them but we have postponed some of them to 2026 since we know the difficulties of the region, the Department and the State. But we do not want to stop everything because it is also important to maintain and support business activity. We have made operating savings that have allowed us to invest in 2024. This will also be the case in 2025 and 2026, even if this nest egg is gradually reduced.

What are the investments for 2025 ?

It is necessary to invest in water and sanitation. It is essential, we are betting the future of our territories on this subject. We are investing (2x) €6 million this year. We are maintaining investments in the Théâtre du Sillon. In total, this represents €2.70 million. This year, we are putting in €1.70 million to €2 million to finish it. We also need to continue to invest in equipment for waste collection, invest in trucks to provide services. We are going to start work at Tanes Basses. We are creating lane junctions to relieve the motorway exit and also serve the area via the first roundabout with access to the supermarket via rue des Chasselas. We are also planning the renovation of the leisure centres and canteens in Paulhan, Canet, Saint-Félix, etc. (€600,000 per year for three years). In the years to come, the population is increasing. The early childhood and youth service will also grow, and this must be anticipated. And, in terms of staff, this represents approximately 85 full-time equivalents.

What about the budget?

The overall consolidated budget for 2024 amounts to €77 million (operations and investments, all budgets combined). Excluding ancillary budgets (water, ZAC, etc.), the operating budget of the Com Com amounts to €29 million. In 2025, the operating budget will be equivalent. Investments will represent €6 million of the general budget (excluding water and sanitation). The budget will be voted on in April when we have the notifications from the State.

Economic development

Studies for three new activity zones have been launched. “We are going to expand the ZAC of Saint-Félix, next to Jeanjean. An activity zone on Paulhan, La Barthe haute, on 10 hectares in the long term, as well as a zone on Canet on 6 hectares (plus 3, in the long term),” explains Claude Revel. In addition, a call for tenders has been launched for a lot in Salamane, near the Leclerc Drive, in order to erect “an elegant building there, at the entrance to the area, to install a business village there. (Rentals and sales). One company is almost selected: it is Cirrus P&eacutegase which has already built several structures of this type in the department. This will be called the Carbone Salamane”.

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