7 in 2006 is indeed confirmed in 2008 3

The calm before the storm In 2008 and for the second consecutive year, expenditures for social action of the departments have increased less rapidly. Net charge that they pose in their budgets increase is "only" 3.7, passing the bar of the 20 billion euros, compared to 5.1 in 2007 and 6.5 in 2006. This relative embellished, largely due to the decrease in the expense of the RMI, will unfortunately without day after judging by the study issued yesterday by the national observatory for decentralised social action (Odas). According to experts, the sudden outbreak of the crisis in the fall of 2008 will inflict on this social spending "a dynamic of growth starting in 2009.

Michel Dinet, the President of the Odas, does not hide its concern. "We are confronted with the amplification of the social problems, at the same time when we are witnessing a settlement of our financial resources," notes (PS) President of the conseil général de Meurthe-et-Moselle. Return to the increase in the number of beneficiaries of the RMI ( 1 in the first quarter of 2009) in addition, the Odas point "the financial consequences of the implementation of the revenue of active solidarity (RSA)". On the other hand, always as a result of the crisis, destabilised families will increase, which will have consequences on the expenditure of child protection, including those related to the placement of children, which represent 80 of the cost of this departmental jurisdiction, the most financially heavy (5.75 billion euros of net expenditure in 2008) after the APA (6 billion euros) and RMI (over $ 5.9 billion).

The APA is an exception

"There is every reason to believe that the expenses relating to support for autonomy, and in particular those for persons with disabilities, will also increase", to alarm the Odas. Entered into force current 2006, the new provision of compensation for disability (PCH) rising arrow: EUR 550 million in 2008 compared with 270 million in 2007. This assistance covers an application wider than the compensatory allowance for persons with disabilities (ACPH) to which its current beneficiaries remain however very attached. Hence the fact that this last device knows a "moderate" decay and still represents an equivalent expenditure (EUR 550 million) to the PCH.

After the object of a soaring growth, support for the elderly, another great social competence of the departments, seems less problematic. The deceleration of the expenditure related to the APA, observed in 2007 ( 6.4 increase from 10.7 in 2006), is indeed confirmed in 2008 ( 3.7).

Scarcity of revenue

To social expenditures called to grow, the Odas note a rarefaction of the revenue of the departments. Depletion that she fears to see grow. "The CNSA (National Fund of solidarity for autonomy), whose resources are related to economic activity, announced that it would decrease its competition for 2009", said an expert from the Observatory. However this body covers more than one third of expenditure allowances paid by the departments. At the same time, they expect to face a new reduction of mutation. A loss of resources that they may as easily be able to compensate within the direct local tax rates ( 6.2 this year). The reform of local taxation may indeed take away this faculty, without giving them the benefit of CSG that "the Assembly of the departments of France is unanimous to claim," according to Michel Dinet. In the end, an elected official fears that these communities are taken in a "effect financial scissors not allowing them more to respond to the requirements of the Act".