2023-07-04 11:00:00
The majority of regions, departments and municipalities cautiously managed soaring energy prices. They show total net savings of nearly 30 billion euros in 2022.
The figures from the Court of Public Records this Tuesday morning will surprise those who are used to hearing local executive officials complain about the state of their finances and the miseries imposed on them by Paris. “The financial situation of local authorities continued to improve in 2022, in line with 2021”, so assure the magistrates.
In detail, all the communities show net savings, after repayment of loans of 27 billion euros. Better, “after deduction of the Treasury account balance, the amount of local authority debt is lower in absolute value at the end of 2022 (126 billion euros) than at the end of 2016 (134 billion euros)“, assures the Court. This good resistance can be explained in particular by the fact that, despite all the apprehensions aroused by the tax reforms, local authority revenues have increased at the same rate as inflation. Tax income increased by 6% in particular, thanks in particular to the dynamism of VAT.
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More difficult for small municipalities
The overall expenditure of local authorities increased by only 5% despite the inflationary peak, and the flight of fuel and motor fuel expenditure (+31%), which reflects prudent management on the part of executives.
Behind these averages there are of course different profiles. The departments and regions, which have increased “thethe amount of their savings and investments” fared better than the municipalities. Globally, “in 2022, the operating expenses of the communities of the communal block have increased a little more than their income”thus affirmed the Court, insisting on the fact that “the increase in operating costs is all the greater the smaller the municipalities».
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