The Gard Rhodanien agglomeration votes for a “prudent and ambitious” budget with 11 million in investment planned for 2025

Le budget a été voté à l'unanimité, quatre élus se sont abstenus. Midi Libre – C. L.

Les élus communautaires ont voté, lundi 3 février, le budget primitif 2025. Malgré des incertitudes à l’échelle nationale, l’Agglo propose un "plan d’investissement ambitieux" pour mener plusieurs projets.

In December, the president of the Gard Rhodanien agglomeration, Jean-Christian Rey, announced the postponement of the budget vote “due to the national situation and the adoption of the government's motion of censure”. A month and a half later, while the State budget has still not been adopted, the community representatives of the Agglo voted on the budget on Monday, February 3.

“The association of intercommunalities of France had calculated losses on the 2025 finance bill for our Agglo of more than 700,000 euros”, indicated in the preamble Jean-Christian Rey who hopes for “better news” in the coming days. The 2025 preliminary budget, resulting from “32 budget conferences, six arbitration meetings and dozens of hours of work”, is intended to be “prudent and ambitious”.

Gross savings of 2.3 million euros

“The scissor effect that was reported in 2023 continued in 2024 and will continue in 2025 with expenditure that will evolve more quickly than revenues although the inflation rate is decreasing”, presented Guy Aubanel, the deputy vice-president for finance and management control. The Agglo wants to maintain gross savings at 2.3 million euros to “guarantee our ability to invest”.

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Staff costs on the rise

For 2025, operating revenues are estimated at 57.3 million euros, of which 31.5 million come from local taxes and 15.2 million from grants and subsidies. On the expenditure side, 42.7%, or 23.5 million euros, are due to personnel costs. An increase of 2.5 million euros in one year which is explained, according to the president of the Agglo, by “an increase in the civil servant's index point”. “When it is revalued, contributions and the cost of allowances increase but it is not us who decide it, it is the State.” Among the other current management expenses, there are the allowances of community elected representatives which amount to 510,992 euros or the subsidies paid to associations which represent 1.1 million euros.

An experiment to “fight against medical deserts”

In terms of investment, revenues reach 11.6 million euros. “We have healthy finances and an ambitious investment plan with actions linked to the territory's project that will remain our priority by being part of the ecological transition and carbon neutrality”, indicates Guy Aubanel. The expenses will be devoted to several projects: rehabilitation of the Bagnols music conservatory, work on hiking trails as part of tourism, land acquisitions, the continuation of studies for the Harkis Memorial, the museum and the swimming pool… Among the other projects in progress, the Agglo will launch “an experiment to combat medical deserts”. “We will set up a house for interns to house them free of charge. The aim is to then be able to keep them.” The budget was adopted unanimously (abstaining: Léopoldina Marquès-Roux, Bernard Nass, Thierry Vincent by proxy to Bernard Nass and Aurélie Delwarte).

The detailed budget for the incentive fee

The budget for the incentive fee was presented by Guy Aubanel. Operating revenues amount to 15.3 million euros, of which 12.7 million euros are generated by invoicing. The collection, transport, recovery of household waste and packaging, and the treatment of waste disposal sites represent a cost of 12.2 million euros. Added to this are expenses for maintenance, servicing, fuel, personnel costs, day-to-day management, etc.

“If the incentive fee had not been implemented, the household waste tax would have increased by 30%, assures Jean-Christian Rey. We were informed a few days ago that the cost of collection would decrease by 150,000 euros thanks to the incentive fee.”

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