We suspected it; in fact, it was an easy prediction: the battle of numbers animated the Municipal Council debate, both for the approval of the 2015 administrative accounts and the 2016 budget. Moreover, didn’t we write in our introductory article yesterday that you can make numbers say whatever you want…
The bone of contention: the criteria for classifying balance sheet items used by the Regional Chamber of Accounts that the City of Nice does not recognize.
Just a question of intellectual discussion? Not really…
The fact is that using one type of criterion, the financial situation of the Nice municipality is strained, while with the other, it is much more encouraging.
Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Everyone stands their ground.
Faced with this deadlock, comfort comes from comedian Groucho Marx who said: “I have principles, but if you don’t like them, I can change them.”
Thus, if Christian Estrosi, buoyed by the 2015 result which improved compared to the CRC’s forecasts, claims an additional 20 million in self-financing using “his” method and thereby reduces the debt reduction capacity from 13.3 to 8.7 years, Patrick Allemand (PS) critically reminds that this particularity comes from the sale of real estate assets and exceptional products and that “it’s like selling the family jewels to pay off debts.”
Consequently, in all scenarios, “this balance remains extremely fragile and requires constant vigilance in the assessment of the debt and the manner in which it is reduced,” stated Marc Concas (DVG).
The debt remains at 500 million euros with a projected decrease to 493 million euros.
For 2016, the finance chief, Philippe Pradal, announced key figures that account for the reduction in State allocations and additional charges which negatively impact by 15.6 million:
86 million euros of investment (+ 16 million euros compared to 2015), a 1% decrease in the housing tax (after a 5% increase in 2015, even if “hidden” in the form of a reduction in an allowance), control of the wage bill and operating expenses, and above all, 51 million euros in self-financing, showing marked progress.
Moreover, good news is announced from the Regional Council’s side (the power of doubling magic!): the budget of this assembly, which will be voted on April 8, includes a regional solidarity measure of 7 million euros for Nice for the construction of the stadium and other funding in favor of sports, cultural, and associative sectors.
This framework and these perspectives allowed Christian Estrosi to express his self-satisfaction: “this rigorous and responsible budget allows offering the people of Nice the facilities, quality public services, and the purchasing power they need.”
Marc Concas (DVG) had the final response: “we will verify during 2016 whether one or several amending decisions do not alter this premature chorus of praise.”
The debate and vote provided an opportunity to assess the organization of the opposition groups: a new group has been formed, the Ecologists, who have announced their “consensual” separation from the socialists, bringing the number of formations in “lifeboat” format present in the chamber to six.
Five among them oppose the “battleship” of the municipal majority, to which the group of Independent Elected Officials of Gaël Nofri and Martine Martinon, who voted “for” the budget resolution, is added.
While budget deliberations took up most of this long day, many other points were on the agenda.
We’ll mention the main ones:
Subsidies to sports associations (nearly 10 million euros), cultural (nearly 2.5 million euros), youth (nearly 2.5 million euros), and social (0.6 million euros) were granted.
Since the total amount is considerable, and sometimes a single subsidy is worth several hundreds of thousands of euros, it would be desirable to better understand the criteria for allocation so that equity and transparency are respected.
Apparently, it’s a case of private agreements, which doesn’t seem to be the best method for managing public funds. This is an argument that deserves separate negotiation. We will return to it very soon.
An important novelty will occur in the relationship between the municipality and all associations: acts of non-respect of the values of the Republic will result in the immediate suspension of the granted subsidy.
The Victorine site is managed by a delegate whose contract expires in November 2017. A mixed reflection group (majority/oppositions) has been delegated to propose pathways concerning the perspectives of this emblematic cinematographic site of yesteryear, which has been caught up by technological advancements and must inscribe its future in modernity.
A performance contract has been agreed with the local channel production and broadcasting company Azur TV: over six years (2016-2021), 2,750,000 euros will be paid to this company. This is what’s called free and independent information.
Mediation is a process of Anglo-Saxon origin, increasingly widespread worldwide, aimed at avoiding recourse to the judicial institution to resolve a conflict through conciliation and/or arbitration. The mediator of the City of Nice can be approached by any natural or legal person with an interest in acting.
The Municipal Council has appointed Mrs. Sophie Henry, general delegate of the Paris mediation and arbitration center, to this position. She will perform this function for the remainder of the current mandate.
End of the session!
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