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He shoots live ammunition.
Pierre Hurmic, the EELV mayor of Bordeaux, did not appreciate that the two main opposition groups, Bordeaux Ensemble (Republicans and MoDem) and Renouveau Bordeaux (Renaissance), refused to participate in the municipal council on March 8, both preferring castigate his policy during press conferences held the day before and the day before.
“
The policy of the empty chair betrays other voids
,” stings Pierre Hurmic.
“
The void of thought, of imagination and the void of serious proposals.
»
This municipal council, important because of the examination of the budgetary orientations for the year 2023, was normally to take place on March 7.
In a letter addressed to elected officials, the city councilor had decided to postpone it by 24 hours, arguing a desire to avoid "
any risk of last-minute cancellation
" because of a national mobilization against the pension reform "
likely to 'to be particularly strong
'.
Nicolas Florian and Thomas Cazenave, respectively former mayor (Les Républicains) of Bordeaux and deputy (Renaissance) of Gironde, both criticized the "
militant agenda
" of the mayor of Bordeaux.
Several elected officials of the municipal majority indeed paraded in the streets of Bordeaux on March 7, clad in the tricolor scarf.
Read also Strike of March 7: the success of a day, the failure of a seesaw
These calendar quarrels would almost evade the question of the finances of the city of Bordeaux, which are undermined by the energy crisis and inflation.
To deal with it, the majority decided to increase the property tax by 4.53% for Bordeaux owners.
An early decision by the opposition, and which goes badly.
“A budget debate through the press”
“
He picks the pockets of Bordeaux residents
,” retorts Nicolas Florian, former deputy in charge of finance during Alain Juppé's last term.
“
The decision that is taken is a form of laziness on the part of the manager
”, deplores the elected official, denouncing “
an ideological choice
” on the part of Pierre Hurmic.
Marik Fetouh, elected Bordeaux Ensemble and chairman of the finance commission, judges the budget "
insincere because it does not take into account the energy shield of the State to help communities cope with soaring energy prices
".
Some examples of the impact of the property tax increase.
This new rate of 4.53% will result in an average increase of €8.9 per month for a 63m2 apartment.
City of Bordeaux
Same volley of green wood from the deputy of the Gironde, Thomas Cazenave.
"
Pierre Hurmic has, for several months, knowingly darkened the picture of our city's finances to justify an increase in the property tax
", deplores the parliamentarian.
His group accuses the mayor of "
choosing a lasting solution
" and of taking a measure which "
will affect the people of Bordeaux indiscriminately
", while deciding to "
artificially inflate the projected expenditure of his budget
".
Accusations to which the ecologist wanted to respond this Wednesday, upstream of the advice boycotted by these two groups.
“
Let them come and criticize in the municipal council
”, tackles Pierre Hurmic.
"
We have been witnessing the staging of emptiness for several weeks
," laments the man who finds the opposition's attitude "
cowardly
", consisting of "
a budget debate through the press
".
Pierre Hurmic specifies having received the groups to discuss this subject and noted “
a vacuum of thought
” as well as a lack of concrete proposals on the part of his fiercest opponents.
The city wants to “stay the course” of its ambitions
The city of Bordeaux estimates nearly 30 million additional expenses in 2023, "
an unprecedented increase in costs
", largely caused by an increase in the energy bill of 14.3 million euros, despite the energy sobriety plan (2.75 million euros in savings) and state aid to cushion this shock (1.2 million euros).
“
We had the choice not to increase taxes, to the detriment of certain municipal policies
,” explains Pierre Hurmic.
Deeming it "
inconceivable
" to question the commitments made during his campaign, the city councilor therefore considered himself "
constrained and forced
to use this tax lever.
In 2022, many municipalities, all faiths combined, have also increased their property tax, such as Poissy (+23.9%), Pau (+13.6%) or Strasbourg (12.6%), three cities managed respectively by the Republicans, the MoDem and the ecologists.
Read alsoThe town hall of Bordeaux wants to install “busy courts” in all schools and nurseries
The town hall of Bordeaux therefore assumes the increase in property tax of 4.53% for owners.
A way to be able to "
stay the course
" of the ambitions carried by the majority.
This includes “
guaranteeing quality public services
”.
In this regard, there will be “
no renunciation
”, affirms the first assistant, Claudine Bichet.
Bordeaux will apply neither closure of equipment nor reduction of schedules and will create 510 additional places in nursery.
The city also intends to "
accelerate the energy and ecological transition
", to achieve 41% energy autonomy by 2026, while accelerating its greening plan for the city.
Also wishing to "
continue the
“, the town hall has decided not to pass on inflation to municipal rates.
Finally, in the field
of "offensive equality policies
", Bordeaux will accelerate the deployment of the "
equal pay plan
".
As to whether the increase in the property tax will indeed be permanent, Pierre Hurmic "
does not forbid anything
", considering "
to work with pragmatism
".