Last year, overall expenditure from the general state budget increased by 37,1 billion euros compared to 2020, to 426,7 billion euros.
While emergency spending due to the continuation of the health crisis fell by 5 billion euros, those linked to the deployment of the recovery plan increased by 17,5 billion euros compared to 2020.
On the other hand, state budget expenditure "excluding support and recovery measures experienced rapid growth in 2021" by 17,6 billion euros, or +5,1%, underlines the Court of Auditors in this report. report whose publication, scheduled before 1 May, had been postponed due to the legislative elections.
"This increase is significantly higher than in 2020, since non-crisis spending had then increased by 2,6 billion euros", she insists, after having already expressed concern in a previous report about the evolution public spending once the health crisis has passed.
This increase is largely explained by the payment of inflation compensation (3,3 billion euros), the ramping up of the military programming law (+2,7 billion) and the increase in the cost of debt interest (+2 billion), a first since 2011, linked to the increase in interest rates and inflation.
Bercy, whose ministers presented the 2021 budget settlement bill to the Council of Ministers on Monday, underlined the impact on the public accounts of a 2,75 billion euro subsidy awarded to the France Skills agency. , specializing in learning and vocational training.
In addition, "3 billion increase (in expenditure) are linked to preventive purchases in the context of the health crisis", such as masks, we underline from the same source.
Sprains
“Among the significant risks for the years to come”, the Court of Auditors mentions in particular the future increase in the interest charge on the debt due to inflation, and “residuals to be paid (expenses incurred to be paid over the next few years) in strong progression", with the recovery plan, the fourth future investment program and the military programming law.
"The sustainability of the public debt presupposes a clear reduction in the structural deficit in the years to come and in particular action on public spending, the level of which in relation to GDP has remained, in 2021, significantly higher than its pre-crisis level. “, engaged the High Council of Public Finances in an opinion on the settlement bill published Monday evening.
In terms of budgetary technique, the Court of Auditors also regrets "sprains from budgetary principles" last year, with credit carryovers at the end of the year which were "very higher than those usually observed".
The ministry for its part judged Monday evening that there had been no "major irregularity" and defended the budgetary "prudence" and "agility" which it had to show in the face of the uncertainties of the situation. sanitary.
In addition, the Court of Auditors judged "regular and sincere" the general account of the State for the 2021 financial year, despite a number of "significant" anomalies: a lack of provision for the financing of military expenditure for " at least 3 billion euros", an overvalued state stake in EDF and undervalued in Caisse des dépôts.