"The reality is more nuanced": after its "passable" rating awarded by the Argus des communes, Menton town hall defends itself

Inevitably, these grades, which resemble assessments on a school report, were going to get people talking. Some elected officials in the municipalities of the French Riviera frowned upon seeing certain grades. Unfortunately (for these municipalities) this is the result of a strict methodology applied by the association Contribuables Associés , which published the Argus des communes 2025 a few weeks ago , based on figures for the 2023 financial year from official public data from the General Directorate of Local Authorities and the Ministry of the Economy.

In Menton, the association's "passable" rating is hardly appreciated. "Behind these raw, often technical figures, lies a much more nuanced reality. Accounting data is useful, of course, but it cannot, on its own, reflect the full complexity of a municipality like Menton," the municipality believes.

Favorable observations from the CRC

For the town hall, it's essential to remember that Menton is not a town like any other. Located on the Italian border, between the sea and the mountains, in the immediate vicinity of Monaco, it faces several constraints that weigh on its management. "As a central town in the east of the department, Menton also plays an important central role. It hosts numerous facilities and services that benefit the entire surrounding area, which naturally puts a strain on its finances."

The town hall is all the more cautious with the Argus as it recalls having received, in recent months, more favorable observations from the Regional Audit Office . The latter had welcomed "controlled fiscal dynamism" and "progressive debt reduction."

In 2024, the municipality even voted for a budget without recourse to borrowing, thanks to the surpluses generated the previous year, notably after asset sales. The claimed result: a debt of 44 million euros at the end of 2023 , or 1,007 euros per inhabitant. A "controlled" level, claims the town hall, slightly below municipalities of the same stratum.

A target of -10% debt by 2026

For the remainder of the term, the municipal team says it intends to continue this approach of budgetary prudence. Borrowing is not ruled out in 2025, but it would be targeted at structural projects. The announced trajectory: a 10% reduction in debt by the end of the term.

This remains an ambitious goal in a context marked by rising public investment costs. "The idea is not only to manage what already exists as best as possible, but also to avoid compromising the future, leaving the next municipal teams with a healthy situation and intact capacity for action."

Beyond ratios and graphs, the town hall calls for financial analysis to be placed in its local context. "The figures say nothing about the realities on the ground, the geographical constraints, the needs of residents, or the efforts made ," it insists. It calls for "solidarity-based" governance, which ensures a balance between " ambition and responsibility."