The Metropolitan Council meeting was primarily dedicated to the approval of the 2018 Preventive Budget, which anticipates 1.725 billion in expenses and 1.206 billion in revenues.
The previous orientation debate during the presentation revealed a rift in the previously solid majority: some councilors opposed the new property tax (6.4%, estimated at 63 million in revenue), intended to partially finance investments for the 2018-2020 period.
In fact, the debt level (about 1.4 billion euros), primarily due to increasing expenses on tram lines 2 and 3, and its repayment (in 2018, debt interest will be 43 million euros, which represents more than 5% of actual operating expenses – Patrick Allemand highlighted in his speech) can only reduce financial capacity concerning the ratios required under the objectives contract with the State that will stabilize allocations for this same period: continuation of management savings and debt reduction capacity under 10 years.
Beyond the exchange of numerical interpretations everyone (majority and opposition) wanted to give, repeating ad nauseam arguments already heard on March 19 during the debate on budget orientations (however, the most original one, expressed by Dominique Boy-Mottard, was noted: “one might say it is better to increase taxes than to incur debt. The problem is that with you, it is not one or the other, but it is one AND the other”) and the technically impeccable presentation by the “great financier” Philippe Pradal, president of the finance commission, attention and interest were directed at the position of the new group of internal opposition within the majority, behind which loomed the shadow of Eric Ciotti, the now openly declared rival of Christian Estrosi for the present (radical opposition versus compatibility with Emmanuel Macron) and future (mano a mano for the mayoralty of Nice?).
Besides, did not Eric Ciotti demand the withdrawal of this tax in an open letter to Christian Estrosi? An act of political interference that sealed the complete fracture between the two men.
In anticipation of this, the President of the Metropolis attempted to introduce a new element into the debate: the details of investments since the establishment of the community in 2012 until 2017, totaling nearly 900 million.
Regarding the figures, the message was clear: unity is strength.
In the name of transparency, this report was disseminated in detail (municipality by municipality), not without an invitation – an innocent hint? – to other territorial communities (who, then?) to do the same.
This accounting exercise did not move the “new” opponents: at the helm, Xavier Beck denounced the choice of this new tax, proposing instead a pause in the investment policy planned for the 2018-2020 plan and emphasized that the supposed focus on small communes was not an act of generosity from the Metropolis but one of the founding principles of this community and sometimes its exclusive duty due to the distribution of competences (“my municipality could build an underground parking lot, but it cannot because it’s a competence of the metropolis” – he explained) and the ardent Christelle D’Intorni launched into a long and aggressive plea against Christian Estrosi, contesting the figures released in favor of her municipality. They were followed by 5 other councilors.
Feeling attacked, the President of the Metropolis responded in kind: “The mayors [of the metropolis] have always prioritized investment because it’s the only concrete way to support economic development and thereby create value and sustainable jobs.”
To recall, the 2018-2020 investment plan stands at 140 million per year over 3 years against 114 million in 2017, a total of 420 million euros. To this amount, investments in the Rรฉgies should be added: for Eau d’Azur, it will be 80 million over 3 years, and for sanitation, 90 million.
Before proceeding to the vote, the assembly rejected the amendments presented by Marie-Christine Arnautu (FN), who called for the removal of the property tax on built assets and a (consultative) referendum of intercommunal voters on the budget.
On the adoption of the new tax, the vote registered 21 votes against.
Then, the 2018 Metropolis budget was adopted with 107 votes in favor, 13 against, and 7 abstentions (the “pro-Ciotti” group).
“44 mayors out of 49 voted for it,” remarked Christian Estrosi, pleased that the wall of his majority held firm.
Despite this game of deception, the reality is that, if the crack that appeared on March 19 has not widened, it is still there: 7 councilors are no longer part of the majority. The case is political, and we will see later the consequences of this rupture. Ultimately, a community, as its name suggests, is a free association…
The other highlight of the session was the launch of studies for the extension of tram line 2 towards Saint-Laurent-du-Var (and the right bank towards La Baronne, where the MIN and the Carros-Le Broc industrial area will be located in the coming years), Cagnes-sur-Mer.
How could Patrick Allemand not bring up one of the arguments he is most fond of: extension for extension, why not extend line 1 to Ariane and La Trinitรฉ? Why this difference, which he considers a social injustice, penalizing the communes and populations of the Paillon valley?
Christian Estrosi avoided the political aspect of the request, limiting himself to a technical response: this line would not meet the economic compatibility ratios of the investment, which require a population density of at least 14,000 inhabitants per kilometer of the route, whereas in this hypothesis, it would be 5,000 inhabitants/km.
Even though the deliberation presented was naturally voted unanimously, the oppositions took the opportunity to reignite the controversy on this dossier (lines 2 and 3), which they claim is rather opaque.
While Benoรฎt Kandel (DvD) simply asked for the final cost estimate, Patrick Allemand’s calculations show 900 million, and Marie-Christine Arnautu (FN) advanced the figure of 1 billion. Whatever the case, the initial projections have been exceeded, which is quite normal for a project of such scope and complexity. In response to this attack, Christian Estrosi’s move was to dodge the issue and defer this matter “to the appropriate times and moments.”
But why keep this open secret when the grapevine is full of rumors? Are we expecting a bill even higher than anticipated?
Another issue that provided Patrick Allemand the opportunity to make his voice heard was the approval of the Housing Plan which adopts the deliberations of the 49 communes of the Metropolis.
His leitmotif is known: the insufficient number of social housing units (standing at 12.6%, far from the needs), a situation creating a bottleneck in demand and disrupting the market.
The argument remains the same, and so do the responses. What to do but continue as always?
The last point of a busy morning was the takeover, starting in 2019, of parking managed by concessionaires by the Rรฉgie Parc d’Azur. This involves the Acropolis, Massรฉna, Palais de Justice, and Saleya parking lots. This decision aligns with the current trend: all delegated services are returning to the public fold. It seems to function better. Why and how? What demands: it’s an act of faith!
