Paris City Council Adopts Budget Amid Criticism of 'Lack of Ambition' on After-School Programs

Paris City Council has adopted the first supplementary budget of the current term, but the move has drawn criticism from opposition parties who accuse Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire of lacking ambition, particularly concerning after-school programs and adapting schools to climate change.

The budget adjustments were made in a challenging national economic climate, resulting in a decrease of nearly 131 million euros in operating revenue compared to the initial budget approved in December 2025. This shortfall is primarily attributed to a slowdown in the real estate market, which impacted revenues from property transaction taxes. The city's finances are also affected by national finance laws for 2026. Despite these external shocks, the city's finance officials stated that the impacts were absorbed without resorting to new borrowing, even as the city's debt is projected to reach 9.7 billion euros by the end of 2026. Mayor Grégoire has committed to not increasing property taxes.

The city's financial "solidity" allowed for an additional 12.9 million euros to be allocated to the overall budget of nearly 10.4 billion euros. This funding is intended to improve safety in isolated school areas, such as restrooms, to prevent sexual violence during after-school hours. This comes after Mayor Grégoire announced a 20 million euro action plan in April to reform the after-school system, which was marred by a sexual violence scandal.

However, opposition members expressed disappointment, noting that the supplementary budget does not include the full 20 million euros for the after-school program overhaul. They argued that the mayor's first budget meeting is out of sync with his commitments. The finance team assured that the after-school plan would gain momentum in the 2027 budget, including measures to improve job security for animation sector staff. The budget also allocates 12 million euros for climate adaptation in schools, with immediate measures like installing air circulators and solar filters, though critics dismissed these as mere "band-aids."

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