The Court of Auditors had recently awarded, in its report dated last October 14, the Alpes-Maritimes General Council the (virtual) label of a well-managed department.
The good news was met with legitimate pride by the president of the territorial collectivity, Eric Ciotti, all the more so because only six departments are part of this exclusive club: Rhône, Indre, Vendée, Sarthe, and Mayotte.
In these times of economic austerity, Eric Ciotti took the opportunity to highlight this, a few weeks before the presentation of the initial budget for the year 2015.
A figure explains in summary the reasons for this result: Operating revenues decreased, going from 945.5 million euros in 2008 to 932 million euros in 2013 (in constant euros, they should be 1040 million euros).
In fact, the savings made during the period amounted to 100 million euros, including 25 million in operating costs and 75 million in personnel. Several measures show that the department’s lifestyle has tightened its belt by a notch.
The staff significantly decreased to 4,572 as of September 30, whereas it was 5,103 at the beginning of the period considered, with 242 having been reassigned to the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis. “And this without having reduced the effectiveness or quality of the service,” stressed the departmental president, Eric Ciotti.
This performance by the General Council shows that a good public service policy is possible.
This result deserves a spotlight: it is a positive example (the Anglo-Saxons call them ‘good practices’) for a country whose public spending equals 57% of GDP.
For the record, from 2009 to 2013, the PACA Region increased its expenditures by 30% and personnel costs by 7.3%.
