It is a promise that does not convince the ecological assistants of the mayor of Paris. Anne Hidalgo assured Monday that the 52% increase in property tax in the capital will allow the town hall to invest an additional 1.2 billion euros by the end of its mandate in 2026. It is an “increase 400 million more per year compared to the rhythms on which we were committed”, affirmed the elected socialist who erects “the acceleration of the ecological revolution” as a main priority.
Among its objectives for 2050, the town hall has set that of 20% of roofs equipped with photovoltaic panels. “We will continue to give more space to nature by doubling the number of trees planted”, also says Anne Hidalgo. Swimming pools, nurseries, green spaces, cycle paths: “the details of these investments will be declined on the occasion of the additional budget” in July, said the first deputy (PS) Emmanuel Grégoire. With the objective of 40% of social and affordable housing on the horizon, “the effort in terms of housing will be historic”, rejoiced the assistant (PCF) for housing Ian Brossat.
According to construction assistant Jacques Baudrier, another elected communist, the additional envelope will allow the doubling, from 200 to 400 million per year, of the budget dedicated to the acquisition of existing buildings to convert them into social or “affordable” housing. “.
Boycott of environmentalists
Criticized by the right-wing opposition on the management of the debt, which should stand at 7.9 billion euros at the end of 2023, the assistant (PS) for finance Paul Simondon underlines that “self-financing reaches 85% of our investment capacity” and that the debt reduction trajectory now falls “under ten years”.
Not enough to convince the elected environmentalists, some of whom are assistants to Anne Hidalgo, who boycotted this press briefing “because the first elements gave no guarantee”, explained to AFP the elected EELV Jérôme Gleizes. “At this stage, we only know 2.59 billion of investment out of the 10.6” planned in total by the end of the mandate, “and these 2.59 billion are unclear”, adds Jérôme Gleizes whose group has been calling for a mandate investment plan (PIM) for several months.