The State is demanding 5.3 billion euros in savings from local authorities in 2026, which has caused outrage.

The State will request 5.3 billion euros in savings from local authorities in 2026 to contribute to the recovery of public finances , i.e. double their contribution in 2025, François Bayrou announced on Tuesday, provoking an outcry among representatives of local institutions.

"Local authorities will also play their part. In the coming years, their spending must not increase faster than the nation's resources," declared the Prime Minister during the presentation of a plan worth nearly 44 billion in savings.

"The contribution that will be requested from local authorities will be €5.3 billion. This represents 13% of the overall effort, less than the local authorities' share of public spending, which stands at 17%," said Regional Planning Minister François Rebsamen.

Local authorities have already been heavily burdened by the 2025 budget, which calls for €2.2 billion in savings, notably through a direct levy of €1 billion on their tax revenues.

This revenue "smoothing" mechanism will be renewed in 2026, "at a higher level," added François Rebsamen, without specifying the amount. He simply mentioned "return arrangements," to be discussed with local authorities, as well as a new financial conference "before the end of the summer."

These savings are "unacceptable to all local elected officials," protested André Laignel, president of the Local Finance Committee (CFL), which defends the financial interests of local authorities. If these proposals were "maintained, we would be forced to call on Parliament to reject this budget," warned André Laignel, also first deputy vice-president of the Association of Mayors of France (AMF).

He fears that the bill will actually be higher for local authorities. "In the end, their 5.3 billion will probably amount to 9 billion. We must consider the cuts in many budgets that affect local areas: budgets for culture, cities, sports, and regional planning," he listed.

"5.3 billion is more than the efforts that the State will have to make in its operating expenses," estimated at 4.8 billion euros, noted Nicolas Lacroix, representing the Assembly of French Departments at the Prime Minister's presentation.

"We strongly oppose this way of placing a disproportionate share of the burden on local authorities," responded the Regions of France, which refuse to be "the variable for adjusting the nation's budgetary balances." Sébastien Miossec, deputy president of Intercommunalités de France, regretted that the measures imposed on local authorities are "out of all proportion to their weight in public spending and debt."

"We understand that by doubling the effort required of local authorities, we must expect to be hit harder, including in the departments," added Nicolas Lacroix, also LR president of the Haute-Marne departmental council.

The elected official also questions the impact of the "blank year" for all social benefits announced by François Bayrou, while the departments are responsible in particular for the payment of the active solidarity income (RSA) and the personalized autonomy allowance (APA).

"We are worried because, ultimately, we will continue to suffocate the departments," he lamented. The Prime Minister also announced "exceptional support of 300 million euros" for the departments most in difficulty.

"It's nothing at all, it's roughly the budget of the Haute-Marne department," Nicolas Lacroix dismissed, adding that the Assembly of French Departments was calling for €600 million in support.

François Rebsamen also indicated that the freeze on the annual growth of VAT revenue allocated to local authorities "will continue in 2026, but not in full as in 2025." This year, this freeze will weigh €1.2 billion on local government finances.

The minister promised that the global operating grant, the state's main financial contribution to local authorities, "will not be reduced in 2026." However, "the state's support mechanisms for local authority investment will be reduced in 2026," except for "the portion allocated to rural areas and priority urban policy neighborhoods."