The debate on budget orientations is always an important moment in the political life of the city because it provides insight into the governance vision of the city from the political groups elected to the Municipal Council.
Of course, when it comes to making choices, it is always the options of the majority that are selected and voted on, but the presentation of alternative models and criticism are integral parts of democracy.
From this perspective, Friday’s session at the Municipal Council confirmed the trends present within the three representative groups.
Christian Estrosi, accompanied by the finance deputy Philippe Pradal and the delegate councilor for Europe, Magali Altounian, emphasized his well-known mantra: a long-term investment policy (€100 million in 2022, with 2/3 subsidized by the Recovery Plan) to create the most favorable infrastructure for the city’s attractiveness, support for the economic world for a return in terms of growth and employment. This is accompanied by unchanged local taxation for several years, controlled operating costs in accordance with metropolitan pooling, significant but stable debt (€514.2), facilitated by low borrowing rates (the cost of debt is 1.64%).
This strategy is proudly claimed by the Mayor of Nice for its convincing results (development of the Plaine du Var with the installation of high-tech companies and a professional and higher education hub), the future relocation of the MIN and the construction of the Convention Center, the beautification and greening of the city center (green corridor and its extension after the demolition of the TNN), the commissioning of tram lines T2/3 and the upcoming T4/5 lines to the east and west, and the imminent construction of the Police Hotel in place of the old Saint-Roch hospital. It is recognized by the State, which has largely subsidized it under the Recovery Plan and by the European Union in various project calls (€50 million since 2008), and, as the cherry on top, the inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage.
Opposed to this assessment and the prospects, the RN group (through the voice of councilor Jean Mouchebeuf) and EE.LV (through its president Madame Chesnel-Le Roux) expressed their criticisms and presented their list of grievances.
The former challenged the positivity of the assessment as Christian Estrosi and Philippe Pradal would like to present: according to them, the return on investment isn’t there, the deficit is widening and it is out of control, the debt is exorbitant, local household taxation is above the national average.
Madame Chesnel-Le Roux pointed out the insufficiency of ecological policies, actions to combat poverty, and exorbitant spending on new infrastructure: her group presented alternative projects of quality and lower cost (still according to them) for the TNN (restructuring of the current building) and the police hotel (using the Auvaire barrack area).
The good side of these budget orientation debates is that everyone, since there is no vote but a simple acknowledgment, can loudly and clearly assert their convictions and, why not, show their supporters that they are the ones who are right.
Then will come the time for decisions, and there we will enter the rule of democracy: it will be the one who is numerically stronger who will win. At the Municipal Council of Nice, the result is already known.
