Steering local authorities through the storm

The economic crisis increases the identity crisis facing French départements (as a result of regional reforms and the changes in their sources of funding), by hitting hard at the budgets of départements and heightening the anxiety of those involved locally. Unlike the State, départements are not legally allowed to be in the red and therefore have to take action. In his département of Val-de-Marne, François Casteignau, director of the council, intends to adopt a number of technical measures in order to identify the expenses which only benefit a very small number of people, and thereby lowering the local authority dues. He intends to make legal claims for money which the State owes the département ; and to reorganise various operating units in order to put agents in positions where they are most needed. He is also trying to promote the views and plans of the département's elected representatives, taking into account feedback from the employees, and finding a way to ensure that the administration is stable.