The Senate approved without enthusiasm, on the night of Wednesday December 10 to Thursday December 11, a bonus “regular” to mayors announced by the Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, a little more than 500 euros to reward city councilors, despite its very cool reception among local elected officials.
After long hours of debate and after several modifications, the senators gave their approval to the budget relating to local authorities, as part of the examination of the state budget for 2026.
Among the many measures contained in this section was the Prime Minister’s promise to award mayors of France a bonus of 500 euros.
It is about “secure [la] ability [du maire] to take a certain number of acts in the name of the State”announced Mr. Lecornu during the 107th congress of mayors, at the end of November. This promise resulted in several government amendments to the state budget, with a view to creating a “recognition of the functions of state agent”assumed by mayors. Either “an annual payment of 554 euros from the municipality to its mayor”according to the government amendment.
“Communication operation”
The proposal was adopted by the Senate but without enthusiasm, some elected officials regretting a clumsy approach or even “humiliating” for elected officials who above all demand a real « reconnaissance » of their local action. “A communication operation, far from reality” of mayors, regretted Senator David Margueritte (Les Républicains, Manche), for whom elected officials above all want us to “stop making them responsible for the deficit” of the country.
Senators also voted against another government proposal which aimed to create a “investment funds for the territories” (FIT), which would merge three grants to communities (on rural areas, local investment and urban policy).
At the budgetary level, the senators also confirmed their ambition to reduce the effort required of local authorities in reducing the public deficit to bring it to around 2 billion euros, compared to 4.6 billion in the government copy. In particular, they decreased by around 1.1 billion euros on « Dilic »a much criticized system for compulsory reserve of part of the tax revenues of communities, which the government proposes to double.
