The president of the Assembly of Departments of France demands 600 million euros from the State to support the “54 departments” in “near bankruptcy”

This request comes at a time when the departments, under heavy pressure to finance social policies, are denouncing an explosion in their costs.

The president of the Assembly of the Departments of France (ADF) and the Côte-d’Or departmental council, François Sauvadet, alerted once again, Friday November 14 on franceinfo, about the financial situation of the departments. The 94th Conference of the Departments of France opens Friday in Albi, in Tarn, in the presence of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.

The president of the ADF demanded “a support fund of around 600 million” euros for “to cope with the payment of benefits that the State requires us to pay” and of which “I do not dispute the legitimacy”. This request comes at a time when the departments, under heavy pressure to finance social policies, are denouncing an explosion in their costs.

Some “54 departments are in a situation of near bankruptcy”affirmed François Sauvadet, highlighting the rapid deterioration of local finances. “I call on everyone to demonstrate, and particularly in Parliament, a spirit of responsibility. The State cannot rely on the departments, on the financing of solidarity which is suffocating us and for which we are not supported”he added.

“We must stop loading the boat. In two and a half years, six billion euros in additional spending”again denounces the elected official, recalling that for allocations in favor “elderly people, disabled people, the State only compensates up to 30%“. The departments, not being able to resort to tax, “find themselves very alone and in an impasse”he said, believing that they are “literally asphyxiated”.

Departmental communities manage 380,000 kilometers of roads and 100,000 bridges. “I’ve been warning for three years. I tell them ‘we’re going straight into the wall'”warns François Sauvadet, who calls on parliamentarians to “be responsible” : “Stop saying let’s manage the departments because we have a state deficit. We must face our collective responsibilities” And “pay benefits on behalf of the most vulnerable in our country”.