Pinned in the program “Capital”, the town hall of Toulouse defends itself
Toulouse is in the viewfinder of the journalists of the show Capital on M6. An episode entitled “Public money: are our cities well calculated?” has been diffused, Sunday, November 28, 2021. The journalists decided to take an interest in the city of Toulouse and in particular to its management of its associations.
In total 948 associations received a grant from the town hall in 2020. This represents an amount of approximately 44 million euros made available each year. Dedicated to public money, the program pointed the finger at the Toulouse town hall for the following reason: “but where are the agreements that associations must provide to the Chamber of Accounts to have all this money?”
The Toulouse city hall did not provide the list in time to the Chambre des Comptes
The show unveiled a study by the Regional Chamber of Accounts which specifies that “the municipality was not able to provide the list of associations available from an agreement of objectives and means”. Capital city recalls that this agreement is always compulsory from the moment an association requests a grant beyond 23,000 euros.
This document must contain the association’s accounts as well as the utility of the subsidy within it. On the show, journalists then questioned Christophe alves, elected in charge of associative life. I assure that the conventions do exist : “in the finance department, we have them, yes. I do not have them in my possession, but I can give them to you later”.
A commission set up within the town hall
Contacted by The Independent Opinion, the Toulouse town hall deplores these accusations: “the listing arrived late, it’s true. But be aware that the list of associations subsidized to the tune of € 23,000 and more, and having signed an agreement with the community, has been updated since the production of this report “.
As explained Christophe alves in the show: “the advantage is that by having this report, it allows us to see where our weak points are”. A commission was being created at the time of the report. In the long term, it will make it possible to improve the list of subsidized associations. “I give you an appointment in 18 months, to show that we will have significantly improved on these points.”, Specifies Christophe alves.
Associations subsidized up to 153,000 euros
Note that if the associations have more than 153,000 euros of public money, they must publish their accounts. This fact is also criticized by the show but the town hall disclaims all responsibility :
Regarding the number of associations subsidized to the tune of 153,000 euros and more that do not publish their accounts, neither the Town Hall nor the Metropolis are authorized to exercise this a posteriori control. On the other hand, we can certify that all the associations benefit from a subsidy from one or the other of the communities provide their accounting elements upstream of their subsidy request “.