Christian Estrosi presented the provisions of the Nice Côte d’Azur metropolitan area’s budget for the year 2013 during the metropolitan council at the Mediterranean University Center. A budget described as miraculous by the Deputy Mayor in the current economic context. On the opposition side, Patrick Allemand expresses concerns about the level of metropolitan debt.
Before starting the debate, Christian Estrosi elaborates on the four priority sectors of the 2013 budget, namely housing, employment and economic development, local community support, and solidarity with the municipalities. For him, it will not be easy. According to the International Monetary Fund, French growth for the current year will not exceed +0.3% (essentially zero growth). A situation requiring government measures that “will have a very negative impact on our finances.” The budget, which will be debated at the end of March, will therefore be primarily cautious but also “assertive for housing, proactive for employment, and protective for the municipalities.”
– For housing, it involves producing a new supply to meet citizens’ needs: emergency shelter, social rental, improvement of the private housing stock, and renovation of social housing neighborhoods. An investment of 20 million euros.
– Regarding employment, 208 million euros are intended for the benefit of local businesses, to enhance the territory’s attractiveness, and to support business installations and the development of the Eco Valley. A budget significantly higher than the previous year.
– Local support involves many planned operations, particularly concerning roads (70 million euros), water and sanitation (28.3 million euros for network maintenance), and metropolitan transport (extension of tramline 1 and preparations for the West-East line).
– Finally, solidarity with the municipalities will be reinforced with a Metropolitan Solidarity grant amounting to 9.1 million euros. After outlining the main strategies, the floor was given to Mr. Philippe Pradal, who had prepared this debate on budget orientation.
Patrick Allemand (PS) speaks up and questions the distribution of the budget announced by the Deputy Mayor. Regarding housing, he points out that part of the amount would be used for private housing and not only for social housing. Concerning employment as well, Mr. Allemand is perplexed: “First, you announced 50,000 jobs, then 20,000, then 25,000… Stick to one number!” he quips. Then, he remains skeptical about tramline 2, which, in his opinion, will not materialize as expected given the projected budget. Lastly, he concludes by expressing his concerns about the massive metropolitan debt, “almost 1 billion euros of debt!” For him, the metropolis is bankrupt and financed solely by taxes.
Dominique Estrosi-Sassone and Philippe Pradal mutually work to alleviate the opposition’s concerns. Christian Estrosi finally takes the floor again, stating, “Count on Patrick Allemand to act in the metropolis’s best interest with his superiors.”
