Territorial Council: when accountability is required
The territorial council meeting on 27 June was devoted entirely to the Collectivité’s accounts. Between the operating account, the administrative account, provisions for risks, adjustments to provisions and losses……you needed an accountant’s mind and a calculator to hand to distinguish between the figures on paper and the financial reality. But this Territorial Council meeting was, above all, a review of the situation – the last one of the current term of office.
As President Mussington noted in his opening remarks, this session was a special one as it presented the final accounts of his term of office: “It marks an important milestone, allowing us to take a clear-eyed look at the progress made since 2022. It is an exercise in transparency and accountability. This year, it is also an opportunity to take stock: behind every item of expenditure lies a service provided to the public; behind every item of revenue lies a renewed capacity to prepare for the future.” The presentation, in particular of the administrative accounts in line with those drawn up by the public accountant (management accounts), meets the requirement for transparency and budgetary integrity. The word ‘sincerity’ was, in fact, mentioned many times during this territorial council meeting. This is the last year in which the two accounts will be presented separately. From 2026 onwards, the management account will be merged with the administrative account into a single financial account (CFU).
What is the outcome?
In 2025, the Local Authority recorded €306,084,645 in revenue and spent €290,312,022, resulting in an overall surplus of €15,772,662, though this represents a sharp decline compared with 2024 (+€34 million). In reality, this surplus stems from carry-overs from 2024 (+€11.6 million) and outstanding commitments (-€8.4 million). The operating budget remains in surplus, whilst the capital budget remains in deficit given the sustained level of investment, the President noted.
For Louis Mussington, his term of office has stayed on the course set in 2022, namely to restore confidence in public action, bring order to the administrative organisation, return to rigorous management, and above all to bring about projects that improve the daily lives of the people of Saint-Martin. “ “We have invested, and I take full responsibility for this, because public money is meant to be put to good use,” he stated, listing the achievements carried out during his term of office: the renovation and greening of schools, the refurbishment of the former hospital to house community services, fitting out new offices for the Collectivité, kilometres of asphalt on the roads, the 900 secondary school, the refurbishment of the fire station, the strengthening of regional cooperation through membership of the OECO, and the creation of the Land Agency. Other projects are still underway: the Grand Case community centre, the Sandy Ground Youth and Cultural Centre, the Vanterpool and Thelbert Carti stadiums (ground-breaking ceremony in September), the abattoir, the 600-pupil secondary school, the sports complexes in Sandy Ground and Grand Case, the Marigot car park, etc…
The President, praising the professionalism of his finance department and senior management, attributes all this to responsible management. However, he is well aware that certain financial indicators may raise questions. The President acknowledges: “Our ratios have changed, and our cash flow has decreased, because we have chosen sincerity, transparency and accountability”, and that of rectifying certain long-standing issues or by incorporating exceptional expenses such as the regional fire and rescue service (+€3.5 million in the budget and +€3 million in outstanding debts), or the reimbursement of the tax on petroleum products (+€8.3 million to be included in the supplementary budget and a risk of €17.1 million) and the cessation of Air Antilles’ operations.
Figures that Louis Mussington stands by, because “budgetary honesty is not a weakness, it is a strength; transparency is not a risk, it is a requirement”. “A local authority is not judged solely on its accounts but on its ability to prepare for the future, and investing means supporting our young people, continuing to train our staff, strengthening our administration, improving public services, protecting our environment and developing regional partnerships”, he concluded, summarising the thrust of his work since 2022. An introductory speech in the form of a plea justifying the actions taken – including the setbacks – and, above all, focused on the future; the election campaign is now underway.
As for the territory’s key issues – the cost of living, housing, employment, security, water and energy – described by the President of the Collectivité as “major challenges to be tackled”, these were not addressed in this review. As at 31 December 2025, the Collectivité’s account showed a credit balance of just €4.621 million, with
€2 million still outstanding.
