Strasbourg Mayor warns of financial emergency following debt audit

Catherine Trautmann, the Socialist Mayor of Strasbourg and President of the Eurométropole, has presented the findings of a financial audit conducted by Deloitte, describing the city's fiscal situation as a “grave” and “urgent” emergency.

The audit reveals a significant degradation of finances, characterized by a doubling of debt to over 250 million euros and a continuous decline in gross savings. Projections indicate that gross savings, which stood at 42 million euros in 2020, could drop to 23 million euros by 2026. This decline is attributed to rising operating expenses, including payroll and general charges, alongside increased financial costs.

Deloitte experts suggest that Strasbourg must identify approximately 35 to 40 million euros in operating savings by 2027-2028 to stabilize its situation, while the Eurométropole needs to generate 45 million euros. Trautmann noted that the current financial state makes it uncertain whether previously engaged large-scale projects can be fully funded or realized during her current mandate. A budgetary orientation debate is scheduled for January.