Published in : Mirepoix Infos No.87, May 2010
This translation by : Arthur Groves
BUDGET COMMENTARY
The first part of the year was, as usual, dominated by discussions on the civic budget, all leading up to the Town Council finance meeting on Monday 22nd March.
For this reason a large part of this bulletin is devoted to this subject. I shall not repeat the figures here since you can consult them in the following pages (Ed. : in Mirepoix Infos, May 2010 edition) or at the Mairie (where anyone may see them). But I am keen to explain the basis of the figures, since a budget reflects the political objectives of those who draw it up.
A brief word first on the Compte Administratif for 2009, which is prepared under the responsibility of the Mairie, and the Compte de Gestion, which is a document drawn up by the controller of public finances. In all respects the two are consistent and reflect the good management of local finances which you can check for yourselves in the column headed “Resultat consolidé”. Based on healthy cash reserves and adequate self-financing, the Conseil Municipal has decided once again not to increase the level of local taxes. They have carried out a review of the charges for local services (which have remained unchanged for several years) with different increases for Mirepoix residents and those from outwith the commune. These charges, which are deliberately kept low, will be reviewed annually in line with the changes in the cost of living. Despite the questions raised by the end of the Taxe Professionnelle, we will continue to give a lot of financial support to the associations whose activities are so important to the life of the commune.
The restrictions which affected the budget plan for 2010 are the same as in previous years: the ongoing absence of any major income makes it necessary to exercise tight and careful financial management. The preliminary list of possible projects has to be trimmed in relation to what is financially possible, taking account of priorities. These priorities, as we have often said, reflect the intention of the council to tackle today’s challenges in order to assure future prosperity. Income will be increased by the population growth, within ten years, provided for in the new local development plan which will be in place before the end of 2010.
As for expenditure, the main aims are first of all to finish works already started – the streets of the east district, the school buildings, the roads maintained by the commune, cathedral stained glass windows, sports facilities, traffic plan, street lighting. Then will follow new expenditure aimed at facilitating the work of the Associations – the seniors club, the tennis club – and expenditure on improving the visual aspect of the town. The budget also allows for investigations prior to defining some very large projects – the cathedral, the river banks of the Hers, roundabout construction at crossroads, the Paul Dardier function room.
I hope that these few lines show you clearly and simply that we are committed to the needs of the town and to making sure that Mirepoix is ready to meet the challenges which its widespread fame imposes.