21st-century chairlifts: This is the unexpected priority of the 2016 Budget of the PACA Region, with a “smart mountains” plan of 100 million euros over the next 5 years, and an increase for this purpose of the Mountain budget by 9 million euros this year alone. When heading to the polls, did the voters imagine their taxes would fund artificial snow cannons?
The adaptation of mountain economies to climate change is notably absent from the discussions. Climate, environment, and energy are also among the significant cuts by a regional right-wing that is far from ecologist: The disappearance of the “AGIR” program which funded hundreds of energy transition projects, halving of the subsidies for environmental education, and no funds for new regional natural parks.
The regional Climate Air Energy and Biodiversity schemes will be stripped of their meaning and resources, against the grain of France’s commitments during COP 21.
The Training budget decreases by 22 million euros (-12%). Excluding new high schools (21 million), investments in high schools will decrease by 30 million euros (-22%).
Even the Economy budget decreases (including Tourism and Digital sectors), contrary to the communication on the “Employment” priority. The Social and Solidarity Economy budget decreases by 25% (-5 million euros). The famous “FIER” (Investment Fund for Regional Enterprises), endowed with 93 million euros, exists only by redeploying the PACA Investment fund, created under the previous mandate, and European funds that were already targeted for this purpose.
The sharp increase in credits for apprenticeship is explained by the regional Campuses decided under the former majority with the Future Investments, including the Regional University of Trades, which is to be built by 2018 in Marseille (Euroméditerranée).
The announced 44 million euros savings on operations do not concern the regional institution’s way of life but indeed on service expenditures. The reduction of the car fleet (necessary anyway) or the reorganization of the Branches would be far from representing such savings!
There is no trace of certain announcements made by Christian Estrosi during the campaign: the very whimsical “Security Plan” of 250 million euros, or the hazy Institute for Ecology negotiated between the two rounds in exchange for the support of Jean-Marc Governatori (Independent Ecologist Alliance).
One pleasant surprise remains: The budget adopts the orientations of the Cooperative Region program for culture, such as the protection of the Culture budget and the creation of a Conference of Arts and Culture.
The removal of a strong measure that we had voted for: financial penalties for municipalities lacking social housing, clearly symbolizes the unequal and liberal orientation of the new majority.
This is not the way we will develop our Region and push back the National Front. A civic, ecologist, and solidarist opposition is more necessary than ever!
Sophie Camard, EELV and the Cooperative Region
