The fire brigade budget in question

De nouvelles pistes pour augmenter le budget des Sdis. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

Douze recommandations pour permettre aux départements de financer les sapeurs-pompiers doivent être présentées aux députés, ce mardi 28 mai.

Avec sept interventions par minute sur tout le territoire national, les sapeurs-pompiers sont fatigués.

Of the 4.7 million missions launched each year, 80% of them concern emergency assistance to people. Although the system works well, it is very expensive. To the point where parliamentarians are wondering about its sustainability in the long term.

New income for the departments

In order to fuel the reflection of the Beauvau of civil security launched last April by the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, an information mission took place focused on the financing of the departmental fire and rescue services (Sdis). The rapporteurs must present their conclusions this Tuesday, May 28, before the National Assembly.

Following numerous hearings with all security stakeholders, including associations of local elected officials, France insurers, directors of Sdis, the National Federation of French Firefighters and several general directorates of administration, the rapporteurs looked at the current Sdis financing model.

A report to feed the Bauvau of security

In a context of increased activity due to the aging of the population and climate change, local authorities are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with these new operational constraints , while at the same time, financial resources remain limited.

The parliamentary mission carried out a national statistical study for all Sdis. In light of the information collected, it appears that the share of special tax on insurance contracts (TSCA) paid by companies to social security organizations and local authorities is no longer sufficient.< /p>

A dozen proposals submitted to deputies

According to the rapporteurs, it is therefore necessary to find new resources for the departments and to better control expenditure on the fire brigade side. The authors of the report believe that "the financing difficulties of Sdis can only be resolved by new involvement of the department".

To this end, twelve recommendations were formulated in order to strengthen the civil security model. Among the proposals is the payment of the insurance contract tax no longer to the Family Allowance Fund but only to the departments.

Another proposal, the end of the exemption from this same tax on insurance contracts for buyers of electric cars. Since 2021, these vehicles have benefited from a reduction which could end on December 31, 2024.

Another avenue studied consists of recovering new resources thanks to a departmental tax additional to the tourist tax collected by municipalities or urban areas. Foreign tourists would be targeted by the measure.

An increase in funding, but expenditure to be contained

Thanks to these new financial resources allocated to the departments, the share of municipalities for the maintenance of Sdis would be frozen at the 2024 level "without the possibility of reevaluation& ;quot;.

At the same time, the information mission highlights the need to "contain the increase in spending. Alternatives to calling on firefighters in the field of medical transport exist". Private ambulance companies could be penalized in the event of “ambulance shortage”.

At the same time, measures to support the attractiveness of the ambulance profession could see the light of day. The pooling of resources is also under study.