Already widely debated during the presentation at the last session, the budget project for the 2022 fiscal year has returned to the attention of the Municipal Council for ritual approval.
As the Latins said, “Bis repetita,” and so this repetition found its place in yesterday’s session.
The remarks were not very original, but how could the oppositions miss this opportunity to emphasize their opposing views to those of the majority? Moreover, if one is in opposition, well, one opposes, isn’t that so?
Otherwise, how can we explain the criticisms expressed by Mr. Mouchebeuf (RN) on exceeding the forecasted budgets for investments when the same scope that evolves during the basic project phase to the terms of reference is not taken into account, further confusing the city’s responsibility with that of the prefect delegated to project management? Or those of Mr. Picard (EE-LV), who opposes major projects and local ones as if they were not two sides of the same coin?
More concretely, the budget presented by Deputy Mayor for Finance Philippe Pradal is based on the triptych of investments, controlling operating costs (management and personnel), debt sustainability, and return on investments in terms of increasing wealth (+3.5% in 2021) and reducing unemployment.
In this regard, the current year presents a plan of €100 million in investment, a third more than in 2021, also thanks to the recovery plan, a balance of operating costs (€525 million in expenses, €556 million in revenues), debt sustainability (15% of the assets), with annual charges decreasing due to lower rates (at 1.64%), which results in an indicator of 8.5 annuities for its repayment. All this with unchanged taxation, particularly the property tax on built properties. And, benefiting even from the near-elimination of the housing tax, €100 million that remained in the pockets of Nice residents, which automatically increased their purchasing power.
This is what in economic doctrine is called a virtuous circle. It is the choice of Christian Estrosi and his majority. Until now, it has worked, but for this, a favorable macroeconomic framework like that of 2020 and 2021, thanks to the ECB’s monetary policy and the European Union’s budgetary policy, is needed. The current question is simple: can they continue in the same way, or will the Ukrainian crisis change the situation?
