Departments "angry" over the rapid deterioration of their financial situation

Strangled financially by the fall in their revenues linked to the real estate market and by the explosion of their social spending, the departments expressed their anger on Wednesday, October 29, through François Sauvadet (UDI), who counted around sixty departments in great difficulty.

"You have before you this morning a president of the Departments of France who is angry," the elected official from Côte-d'Or stated from the outset, two weeks before the National Conference of Departments in Albi.

"In three years, the State (...) has imposed six billion euros of additional spending on us and at the same time we have lost 8,5 billion in resources," he explained at a press conference.

The result is unequivocal according to him, since the number of departments in difficulty has increased, in two years, "from fourteen to around sixty".

All types of departments, whether rural or not, are affected today, according to Mr. Sauvadet, citing Aisne, Gironde and Hauts-de-Seine.

The emblematic example of Gironde, the sixth most populated department in France, which presented an operating budget deficit of 97 million euros in mid-October, is of particular concern to elected officials.

This deficit immediately triggered a state support procedure, as local authorities could not present an unbalanced budget under a "golden rule".

The concrete consequences of the situation in the departments are already being felt on the ground, including drastic cuts in investment for roads and colleges, difficulty in financing fire and rescue services, reduction of subsidies and aid to municipalities, and failure to replace staff.

The draft budget for 2026 is not expected to improve the situation, according to departmental elected officials, despite the allocation of 300 million euros to a safeguard fund planned in the government's proposal.

According to Départements de France, social spending by departments now represents 70% of their spending compared to 54% ten years ago, driven in particular by child protection, but also disability and aging.

However, the association estimates that the contribution requested from the departments for 2026 will be 575 million euros.

"The state is asking us to participate in the recovery of public accounts on expenses that it imposes on us, it is completely unbelievable," emphasizes François Sauvadet, who says he feels "a sense of abandonment."

The association is asking the State to ensure funding for any new expenditure and is demanding a fund of 600 million euros to save struggling departments.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.