Éric Ciotti has just sent a letter to every voter to support the UMP candidates in the departmental elections. The content of this communication made Jean-Christophe Picard, president of the PRG 06 and a candidate himself, react: “Let’s be blunt: Mr. Ciotti is shamelessly lying.”
Jean-Christophe Picard explains his position, particularly regarding one of the General Council President’s declarations: “Despite the State’s disengagement, we have chosen not to increase local taxes, to decrease the number of civil servants by more than 500, and to reduce the use of debt. This policy was praised by the Court of Auditors as exemplary.”
To which he responds: “In 2009, he had a 15% increase approved in the housing tax, the tax on built land, the tax on non-built land, and the professional tax. In 2014, he also had an 18% increase approved in transfer duties. Therefore, it is impossible to deny that, under his presidency, both direct and indirect taxation have soared. Mr. Ciotti is lying when he claims to have chosen ‘not to increase local taxation’!”
The UMP departmental majority’s policy has never been praised by the Court of Auditors. The magistrates only noted that the Alpes-Maritimes were among the six departments that “managed to stabilize or reduce” personnel costs. However, they also noticed that the Alpes-Maritimes were among the twelve departments with “fiscal resources per inhabitant more than 25% above the median.” Mr. Ciotti is lying when he claims that his policy was called “exemplary” by the Court of Auditors!
The outstanding bank debt of the General Council increased from €747,537 in 2008 to €879,488 in 2013, an increase of 18%. Mr. Ciotti is lying when he explains that he chose “to reduce the use of debt”!
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