The mayors of the so-called municipalities “rural”, with tight budgets, they too are struggling with rising energy bills. In Loire-Atlantique, 50 elected officials met on this subject this Saturday, November 05, in the multipurpose room of Couffé, on the initiative of theassociation of rural mayors of the department.
This brings together 114 municipalities of 1,500 to 3,500 inhabitants.
Projects hampered, and difficulties in providing the minimum service
“What aid will be provided by state services, to allow us to continue to make projects and maintain services for the inhabitants in our small towns?” : this is the question that Nadège Placé asks herself, Mayor of Viewa town of 1,700 inhabitants.
With its small budget, it is difficult to provide minimum service, “yet we have to provide heating in our schools, our municipal buildings, whatever the cost, we have a service obligation,” she explains. Even more difficult, to take on projects. Like the construction of a new school, expected, in this town near the metropolis which welcomes new families and children to be educated.
© Radio France
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Sophie German
We ask ourselves the question of maintaining this investment. – Philippe Jouny
This subject also occupies the days of Philippe Jouny, Mayor of Deffréac, a town of 2,300 inhabitants. His project to build a collective restaurant is called into question : “with a fairly lower investment budget and rising bills, as a budget manager, we ask ourselves the question of maintaining this investment planned for several years”. Which would play on the attractiveness of Deffréac: “we have a rapidly growing population, around 3.5% per year, which represents a need for structures”.
© Radio France
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Sophie German
Mayors call for price cap, table motion
Philippe Jouny’s fear also lies in the price of energy supplier contracts for 2023: “This worries us. The President of the Republic has called for not signing contracts at exorbitant prices. Although we found the prices excessive, we must provide energy support for our communities, and we cannot refuse to sign contracts “.
“They can find themselves in big trouble if the state does not take measures to cap energy prices.” – Michel Menard
Michel Ménard, the president of the Loire-Atlantique department, calls for a boost: “There are no measures intended for local authorities, and they can find themselves in great difficulty if the State does not take measures to cap energy prices.”
The fifty or so rural mayors present at this meeting voted for a motion to be filed with the defender of rightsto denounce _”the lack of equity”_between rural and urban municipalities.