Aveyron: the commune of Saint-Rome de Cernon monitored by the regional chamber of accounts

The vote on the budgets of the municipality of Saint-Rome de Cernon did not take place within the legal deadlines, which forced the prefect of Aveyron to refer the matter to the regional audit office. MIDI LIBRE – F.MAYET

The prefect of Aveyron recently referred the matter to the regional audit office of Occitanie regarding the budget of the municipality of Saint-Rome de Cernon. A budget that, as of June 1, had not been adopted. Mayor Pierre Pantanella blames the municipal opposition.

In Saint-Rome de Cernon, political life is not a long, quiet river. Mayor Pierre Pantanella himself does not deny it. “I can understand that opposition elected officials do not vote for a provisional budget if they do not agree with the guidelines. But they should not vote for the previous budget, when we can no longer go back on it… “ A local administrative and financial mess that continues – the same situation occurred last year &ndash and which was recently seized by the prefect of Aveyron, the regional audit office Occitanie.

Which, in a press release, explains that“The municipal council of the commune of Saint-Rome de Cernon did not vote on the budget within the allotted time. This lack of vote concerns the main budget of the commune as well as the two water and sanitation annex budgets.”

“Significant investments” to be done according to the regional audit office

"To enable the municipality to present a sincere budget in view of the work needed to be undertaken, the office proposed to maintain management expenses at a constant level and recommended mobilizing available resources for equipment operations that are urgent in terms of the safety of property and people."

And the regional audit office insisted on the“major investments that must be made in order to secure the supply of drinking water to the municipality and to maintain the quality of the water in the sanitation network, which is significantly behind schedule. To do this, the municipality's main budget, which has generated significant unused surpluses in previous years, could contribute to financing these investments.”

“Everything has been validated” specifies the mayor

Mayor Pierre Pantanella specifies that “The regional audit office has proposed surplus budget forecasts. But we, the municipality, do not have the right. We have to be balanced. We have a surplus budget of 188,000 euros with forecasts for work on the early childhood center, the extension of the health center and public lighting. Everything has been validated by the chamber."

On the other hand, the project to develop an associative grocery store, not officially voted on by the municipal council of Saint-Rome de Cernon, has not been ratified by the regional chamber of accounts. "On this file we are consulting the companies."

"They have one year left to hold on… after I leave"

There remains the political knot that the mayor explains. “The opposition has all budgets voted on by secret ballot. And we come out seven by seven. Without a majority, therefore. If the vote were by show of hands, the vote of the chairman of the meeting counting double, it could pass.” At the beginning of August, the municipality has, as Pierre Pantenella points out, “entered the figures sent by the regional audit office. The prefectural decree validating the budget is dated July 25. It includes the water and sanitation budgets, both in balance. The main budget is in surplus imbalance.” That is, operating expenses of 1.3 million euros for operating income of 1.5 million euros.

“The situation could happen again next year, adds Pierre Pantanella. The opposition says it doesn't trust me and doesn't want to vote for the budget. But it's not a question of trust, it's a question of content! It's not the mayor who makes the budget alone. In any case, they have one year left to hold on… after i leave.”

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