On April 8th, the Regional Council will vote on the first budget of its new “era” under the Presidency of Christian Estrosi.
With a favorable vote assured, we’ll just be treated to the vitriolic criticisms from the Frontist representatives of Marion Maréchal Le Pen, who will take the opportunity to add some spice to a session that might otherwise resemble the collective recitation of the president-priest’s breviary prayers.
In the meantime, Christian Estrosi, true to his style, took the chance to perform his one-man show and present the budget orientations with a focus on two main goals: promoting employment and reducing operating expenses.
It’s true that the financial situation isn’t the best, with €2.6 billion in debt for a €2.1 billion budget, resulting in a debt repayment capacity of 11.3 years.
The gross savings have shrunk by €100 million in three years, decreasing from €333 million to €233 million, also due to a reduction in state support of €252 million between 2014 and 2017.
Objective number 1: to reduce the regional unemployment rate from 12% to 10%.
To achieve this, the plan revolves around two main axes: creating a regional apprenticeship bank and simultaneously increasing business aid by 12% so that the 25,000 currently unfilled job offers in the region find takers.
In terms of expense reduction, the goal is to cut €44 million, mainly by not replacing retirees (150 fewer people in the next 18 months), reducing the vehicle fleet, and selling the regional house on Canebière in Marseille.
Another electoral campaign commitment is to equip all TER trains with cameras whose footage can be accessed remotely, as well as enhancing the security of stations and high schools.
Also a good idea is the “Republic Values Charter” for associations receiving regional subsidies.
The new regional president will not let right-wing mayors, particularly sensitive to this argument, miss his “solidarity”: whereas his predecessor had penalized municipalities that did not meet their legal obligations regarding social housing construction, he will repeal this provision. As a result, these municipalities will now be able to claim as much regional subsidy as others.
With 42 municipalities severely lacking in social housing, the Paca region is the worst performer in France according to the criteria of the Solidarity and Urban Renewal Law (SRU), which requires municipalities with more than 3,500 inhabitants to have at least 25% social housing.
Show must go on…
