Mayors of France worried for towns’ financial future

The suppression of the taxe d’habitation has reportedly not helped, while districts are said to be feeling the strain of the end of assisted contracts too, according to a report by French news source FranceInfo.

This, as well as other pressures from the State, have reportedly put many Mairies in uncertain financial situations.

The region of Auvergne appears to have been hit especially hard: FranceInfo reported on two mayors from the region, both of whom said they were worried and angry about the future of their area.

Hervé Prononce, mayor of Cendre (Puy-de-Dôme) feared for the financial future of his 5,000-inhabitant town; while Bernard Pasciuto, mayor of the 20,000-inhabitant town of Cournon-d'Auvergne, alleges his Mairie has lost €2.8 million in public funds in the last four years.

“We are [in the position] of not being able to hire anyone, but we are being asked to do a better job; it’s impossible to do,” said Pascuito, speaking to FranceInfo.

The news emerged ahead of the 100th Congress of Mayors, which took place in France this week. Many sought to make sure President Emmanuel Macron was aware of the straitened circumstances, and wanted to open a dialogue with him over how to improve the situation.

The President was reportedly amenable to the idea of discussion on the issue.