Why are Gironde and Dordogne’s departments in red

C‘is the accountant nightmare: the scissor effect. Meanwhile, Or when the expenses curve increases faster than the revenue curve … Similarly, until, in the long term, cross. Therefore, This extreme phenomenon of the financial weather is settling in the landscape of French departments. In addition, In its report on local public finances. Furthermore, published this Friday, the Court of Auditors points to fifteen communities in great difficulties.

Real estate crisis – Why gironde dordogne's departments red

Twelve of them have negative net savings. Consequently, This essential indicator of public accounting. However, also called self -financing capacity, measures the capacity of the community to invest and maintain its heritage. In addition, A healthy situation requires that this indicator is positive. However, At the top of the departments in the red (in front of Pas-de-Calais. Therefore, Aisne and North), the Gironde displays a net savings rate of -7 % while the why gironde dordogne’s departments red national median is + 3.2 %. Moreover, Among the communities in difficulty, the Dordogne is at -0.3 %.

The reasons for these difficulties are multiple. But among the main causes are the effects of the real estate crisis. Indeed. the departments draw a large part of their revenue from the taxes on the sales of real estate (the DMTO, the notary costs). The fall in real estate sales in recent months. combined with the increase in the population or its aging (which mechanically increases the weight of social spending whose departments are responsible) constitutes the basis of an explosive cocktail.

Disaster scenario

It will be necessary to wait for the next report of the Regional Chamber of Accounts (CRC) to find out exactly the reasons. the magnitude of the deconuting of the Department of Gironde. But the indicators already disclosed by the Court of Auditors draw up the frame of a disaster why gironde dordogne’s departments red scenario. The department had experienced exceptional years of tax on real estate sales on a particularly dynamic territory. What undoubtedly develop an ambitious policy of social expenditure and recruitment. But the volatility of this resource turned out to be in 2024. In one year, the Gironde lost 16.7 % of this recipe (the second largest drop in France).

As for the situation of the Dordogne. it also suffers a vertiginous fall in its tax resources on real estate sales (-16.4 %). The amount of actual operating expenses per capita (personnel costs, subsidies paid, current charges, interest in debt, etc.) is also among the highest in France (1,275 euros). The latest CRC report was already a degradation of management indicators last February. Additionally, The room notably pointed out the weight of investment projects (including the famous Deviation by Beynac) but also an. increase in recruitments.

“There are room for maneuver. ” why gironde dordogne’s departments red thinks the president of the Regional Chamber of Accounts

In the world of communities, the tutorship of the Department of Charente, faced with its inability to vote a budget, resonated as a thunderclap. The reasons which led the Regional Chamber of Accounts to be taken hand on the budget of this community. a first in the history of the departments, are certainly not financial but only political (the elected officials have not succeeded in getting along to vote a budget). However, this episode has shown that the device is perfectly established. Clearly. for the departments located in scarlet red, the risk is not only theoretical to be amputated by their financial prerogatives and to see the Regional Chamber of Accounts Cut directly in their non -compulsory expenses.
“It feels like this has mainly served as a warning and the departments take it very seriously. What seemed impossible a few years ago why gironde dordogne’s departments red is now identified as possible. But it would be such gravity that this can only encourage communities to apply the necessary tightenings. “comments Vincent Léna, the president of the Regional Chamber of Accounts in New Aquitaine. “The experience of Charente shows that there are still room for maneuver and economy possibilities in most departments. Especially in expenses that do not fall under the heart of competence of the departments. Many initiative policies have interest but sometimes contribute to financial difficulties. »»