It is a very sensitive report, which was eagerly awaited. The Regional Court of Accounts of the Grand Est this Thursday published its report on the management of Smitu, the mixed union in charge of public transport in Thionvillois and Fensch, for the period 2013-2019. It confirms what we had thought for years: there were major management concerns, at the discretion of the various management teams.
Citézen: a budget quadrupled in ten years
Most of the criticism concerns the Citézen project, this high-level bus planned from 2010, and now scheduled for 2026, at the earliest. First estimated at 50 million euros, the cost gradually rose to 95, then 120, then 140, and finally nearly 200 million euros. In question, according to the report of the Court of Auditors: the lack of anticipation of the Smitu, which took years to assess needs and constraints. The project has also evolved a lot in ten years: in particular on the thorny issue of crossing the Moselle and the SNCF rails at Thionville – we know today that there will indeed be a dedicated bridge for the high-level bus of service – but also the choice of rolling stock, and the depot, which will ultimately be in Florange.
The Court of Auditors accuses the Smitu of having, on several occasions, voted decisions without having all the necessary information. To have applied for grants without having a precise financing plan. And to have spent several tens of millions of euros for the operation of the network, when it should have been invested in the Citézen project.
A disproportionate project, according to the users’ association
While he does not question the merits of having a dedicated site bus, Yan Rutili, the president of theUsag’Thi Fensch user association, denounces the excessiveness of the Citézen project, whose budget has quadrupled: “What we will mainly pay for is a new bridge over the Moselle. This project is above all urban planning. What we need are more drivers, buses and timing“.
An unfair tax
Above all, Yan Rutili denounces, like the Court of Auditors, theinappropriate use of part of the Smitu budget, which should have been dedicated to the Citézen project, but which was in fact used for the operation of the network. This money comes from the corporate tax (called Versement Transports), which was increased from 1% to 1.75% of payroll in 2010, and which still is today. “First malfunction, of the 42 million euros taken from companies, 35 million are missing. Second malfunction: the first groundbreaking of the Citézen should have been given in 2015, five years after the increase in the tax. However, it is not the case. From 2016, the tax should therefore have gone back to 1%“, explains Yan Rutili.”I invite all entrepreneurs who have unduly paid this tax to come closer to us, and we will see together what we can do to recover this money.“.
Only positive point noted in the report of the Court of Auditors: since the arrival of Kéolis as operator this year, past reviews have been taken into account and the contract was adapted. We must now be careful to stick to it.
The Smitu, requested by France Bleu Lorraine, did not follow up.
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