No offense to the late voice of sports journalism Eugène Saccomano, by choice, we will not repeat the match. It has already been played during the previous municipal council, on November 22. Even if the semantics have evolved, the budget orientation report (and no longer debate) had enabled each political party to set out its ambitions for the City. And its differences. At the time of ratifying the budget, the cleavage remained as it was.
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“Too many cranes, and not those that migrate”
We will retain from the intervention of the socialist opponent Brigitte Vaïsse his aversion to urbanization “by forced march of Thionville” and for cranes, “not those who migrate”; its warning against the effects of the digital transition on the rendering of the public service to the population; or even his skepticism about the environmental policy carried out by the majority, “which is anecdotal”. Manon Pellicori obviously joined her on this green theme: “Declarations of love are good, but I would like to have proof of it. On a budget of 80 M €, we are struggling to reach a million euros for this ecological transition… ”
Not enough to shake Pierre Cuny for whom “the environment is no longer an ‘ecological projects’ column. In every action today, there is support for the ecological transition. The renovation of the town hall, an energy strainer, it is we who are doing it ”. As for the stone, the opinion of Pierre (Cuny) is set in stone: “I will not repeat the debate but I was desperate that there were no cranes between 2008 and 2014. The cranes , it is a sign of good health as my father used to say… ”We will not play the game again, therefore, because we do not undo the political sensitivities of each other. On the other hand, it is interesting to dwell on the accounting reality of the City’s finances.
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€ 1,585 per capita debt
First focus, the debt. Its outstanding amount will cover the € 66m (including € 1.1m Covid loan) at 1is January 2022. To better appreciate this sum, it is still necessary to report it to those who support it, the Thionvillois. Jean-Charles Louis, the city’s finance man, agrees: “The debt is still high with a ratio of € 1,585 per inhabitant. “But one thing reassures him:” Its structure is healthy. We benefit from an extremely low interest rate, namely 1.20% at the start of December 2021, which is even lower than 2020. ”To assess this debt is also to put it in perspective with its past state. Here again, the comparison flatters the balance sheet of the majority: “Its outstanding amount was € 79.2 million at 1is January 2015. “
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€ 6 million for roads
Second focus: the City’s budget, which in 2022 stands at € 82.9 million. Almost the same amount as in 2021 (€ 83.2 million). This concern for balance, in times of crisis, reflects the will of the majority to finance its investment policy broken down into seven major axes. Among these, let us quote the Action cœur de Ville and the 3.4 M € credited for the refurbishment of the Jean-Burger complex; or the € 6 million released for the renovation of roads and public buildings. To ensure this lifestyle, and as already mentioned during the previous municipal council, the path taken will lead in particular to a reduction of 1.7% in personnel costs. Which, as a reminder, represent with € 28 million budgeted in 2022 more than 58% of actual operating expenses. Another downward chapter: that of grants to associations (-11%). In terms of revenue, the majority anticipate the sale of nearly € 4 million in heritage assets. There too, a choice assumed and criticized by the opposition, Brigitte Vaïsse in the lead. But we will not repeat the match, the outcome being necessarily to the advantage of the majority. Budget voted, end of extensions.
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