Elisabeth Borne promises the departments increased support from the State

2023-11-10 14:00:01
Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, presents to mayors, in the large amphitheater of the Sorbonne, the government’s measures to respond to urban violence, in Paris, October 26, 2023. JULIEN MUGUET FOR “LE MONDE”

The Prime Minister did not come empty-handed to visit the department presidents gathered in Strasbourg from November 8 to 10 for their annual meetings. Faced with financial difficulties, they will benefit from state support, Elisabeth Borne was to promise them. Many of the measures from which they can benefit will be deployed in 2024 by the government, for at least 200 million euros.

In fact, on October 24, the Court of Auditors highlighted how clouds were gathering on the horizon for local authorities. Their accounting situation is, in fact, turning around. While they generated a surplus of 4.8 billion euros in 2022, they may have to spend more than they receive in 2023. This should result in a deficit of 2.6 billion euros in 2023, and 2.9 billion euros in 2024, according to the institution’s projections. However, the situation varies depending on the communities, with the departments characterized by a clear deterioration in their gross savings: – 39% compared to 2022. Which would erase the increase that occurred between 2018 and 2022.

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Elisabeth Borne was first to announce to the department presidents a vast overhaul of the aid they receive for financing the autonomy of the elderly. The idea is to better support them. Today, the departments finance part of this growing burden with funds from the National Solidarity Fund for Autonomy (CNSA).

But the system is confused: there is “twelve or thirteen” different pipes, we note at Matignon. And it is above all “fairly unequal” since not all departments are helped in the same way. For some, a third of the expense is covered by the CNSA; for others, it’s more than half.

“Simplify” things

The government wants “simplify” things so that support is equal: 50% by the CNSA and 50% by the departmental councils. But, as this will not be possible for a few years, it will release an envelope from 2024 “from 100 to 150 million euros” intended primarily for departments which are poorly financed by the CNSA, or which are already experiencing financial difficulties. This should be the subject of an amendment to the Social Security financing bill.

Furthermore, to alleviate the budgetary difficulties of the departments, and in particular of” fifteen “ of them, the Prime Minister was to announce that the government will extend the specific support fund created in 2020. This fund is funded by part of the national VAT revenue intended for them. This share is estimated at around 55 million euros. The government undertakes to add the same amount. This would allow the fund to exceed 100 million euros. It was a request from the association of elected Departments of France.

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