Les élus municipaux de Villeneuve-sur-Lot se sont retrouvés lundi soir pour une nouvelle séance du conseil municipal. Une réunion en grande partie consacrée aux orientations budgétaires de la Ville pour 2024.
It has become a habit, the City of Villeneuve-sur-Lot inaugurates the season of budgetary orientation debates. It is a desire of the Lepers municipality since 2022 to better anticipate things. This vision is not shared by all members of the Villeneuve-sur-Lot council, as some of the opposition consider the « assumptions too optimistic » given that the year is not yet over and the upcoming context may seem unclear. However, it does not matter to the majority since these are « guidelines » and the mayor of the town announces that « the numbers are good » at the beginning. As usual, it is Deputy Finance Minister Sylvie Fourès who has been tasked with summarizing the budgetary orientation report for the year 2024.
There will be no increase in taxation.
Despite an explosion in fluid prices – gas and electricity – the City is managing to keep operating expenses lower than revenue, and has financial management ratios that are focused on dynamic and proactive municipal action. Most importantly, the municipality is maintaining « fiscal stability » for the upcoming year and is staying on track to realize projects without plunging finances: seeking grants and revenue, and « finding internal resources to address any potential difficulties ».
For the year 2024, Villeneuve will have to open their wallet for several projects: renovation of the Max-Rousié stand, development of the Georges-Leygues promenade, refurbishment of the Sainte-Catherine church (read opposite), refurbishment of Leclerc and Bordeneuve avenues, etc. €13 million for the annual plan and €24 million for the multi-year investment plan covering until the end of the term in 2026 (€18 million in 2024 alone). The self-financing portion is around 46%, while the subsidy rate rises to 40% and debt to 14%. Sylvie Fourès supports this « virtuous trajectory ».
« Rendez-vous en 2026 »
Sans surprise, l’opposition n’est pas du même avis, Frédéric Ladrech pour « Ensemble pour Villeneuve » pointe un budget « morne et sans ambitions », la non-réalisation des investissements annoncés l’an dernier et un budget dédié à la communication et aux animations toujours trop important, au lieu de « baisser les tarifs de la cantine scolaire ». Le maire était-il encore chargé en endorphines après sa participation à l’ékiden de la Corrida des Pruneaux ? Sa réponse était aussi vive qu’agacée. « Vous dites des bêtises » a-t-il rétorqué, précisant que le budget des animations était constant – « on fait avec les mêmes chiffres mais en mieux ». Quant aux plannings des projets, il admet qu’il « ne s’attendait pas à autant d’études » mais que tout serait bouclé d’ici la fin du mandat. « On prend rendez-vous pour le budget 2026 » lance Sylvie Fourès à l’opposition. Rebondissant sur les tarifs des cantines, Thomas Bouyssonnie a lui aussi demander des éclaircissements sur « la politique sociale » de la majorité dans ce budget. « C’est la politique du quotidien, quand on maintient le bus gratuit, accentue les actions du CCAS ou que les animations restent gratuites » répond Guillaume Lepers.
Since the focus is currently on orientations, the council did not need to vote on any decisions. The initial budget for 2024 will be adopted by the end of the year.
« The construction project of the century: 6 years of work for the Sainte-Catherine church. »
Earlier this year, we mentioned that the iconic church in the center of the town will undergo significant renovations in the coming years, to the extent that it will have to close its doors to the public for many months. Initially hoped for in 2023, the roof refurbishment works will finally start in February 2024. « 90 years after its construction was completed, » says Anne-Marie Davelu-Chavin, the first deputy in charge of Culture and who appreciates symbolism. The works will be massive, and above all costly. To stay within budget, a new phased approach to the project has been decided. And it will span… 6 years! « The project of the century, » affirms Mayor Lepers. 800,000 euros will be needed for this first phase, and the City plans to subsidize this amount by 73% with the assistance of the State, Drac, and the Nouvelle Aquitaine Region. In its Multi-Year Investment Plan, the City has allocated 1.8 million euros for the preservation of its essential church.
Les échos du conseil
New names for streets and parks. The City has renamed several roads and squares in the bastide, with technical adjustments and tributes. Thus, the two perpendicular alleys to Pavillons Street have been named « Impasse des Pavillons » and « Chemin des Pavillons ». As construction is about to begin shortly, the central boulevard is officially becoming « Allées Georges-Leygues ». Next to it, the Hôtel de Ville Park – previously known as « Parc Anatole-France » – will be named after Clément Frison-Roche, a military villeneuvois who was killed in Mali in 2019. On the left bank, there is a new tribute to Paul Simonet, the creator of the Villeneuve organic market. After the market hall, the street leading to it from Fraternité roundabout will bear his name. The final adjustment is that the tribute plaque to Anna Politkovskaya will be moved to the Place des Droits de l’Homme.
Des travaux de mise en sécurité au château de Rogé. Près de 42 000 euros de travaux d’urgence vont être engagées dans les prochaines semaines dans la bâtisse historique des bords du Lot. Ils consisteront à une mise en sécurité la porte d’entrée, du parapet surplombant la rivière côté jardin et le mur de clôture de la cour intérieur.
Exceptional subsidies for VBC and Boule Lyonnaise. A reward for their investment. The Villeneuve Basket Club, which organized a special day in July in honor of the Villeneuve « gem » in the NBA, Ousmane Dieng. For the resources deployed, the City grants the club an exceptional subsidy of €1500. Similarly, Boule Lyonnaise, which showcased the colors of the bastide during the French championships, receives €1000 as a contribution towards travel expenses.
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