Lamanère residents packed the town’s multipurpose hall on Tuesday, August 11, to hear how their community’s money is being spent and what public services lie ahead, in a session Mayor Gisèle Juanole timed deliberately so both year-round residents and seasonal visitors could attend.
Jean-Paul Laïlle presented the municipality’s financial documents by video projection, with Juanole adding context. The 2025 administrative account showed the town in solid shape: 162,308 euros in revenue against 155,244 euros in operating expenses, and 724,937 euros in investment revenue against 487,488 euros in investment spending. That surplus gives the community a cushion going into the year ahead.
The 2026 picture looks different. The preliminary budget projects 151,403 euros in operating revenue against 181,724 euros in operating expenses, with investment revenue of 1,361,609 euros offset by investment spending of 1,354,948 euros. The driver of that spending is the construction of the House of Outdoor Activities and Local Heritage, a facility designed to serve both residents and visitors.
A cash-flow complication has required careful management. The municipality pays 20 percent in real costs but recovers only 16.4 percent in value-added tax, with reimbursement arriving two years after invoices are paid. To bridge that gap, the town has arranged a bridge loan to maintain liquidity. Construction is expected to finish by year’s end, with the facility opening in spring 2027. A public service delegation process, currently being prepared, will determine how the building is managed once it opens.
Meanwhile, several smaller initiatives will shape daily life in the months ahead. Road work on the Coral route will require 32,700 euros in subsidies. Public safety improvements include a gradual replacement of lighting fixtures with LED units and a monthly gendarmerie mobile brigade presence, with the next visit scheduled for Friday, August 28. Environmental work focuses on village beautification and repair of roads and paths damaged by Storm Nils, which caused widespread damage to various networks. Municipal buildings will receive maintenance work and equipment upgrades. Health services will continue through monthly Medicobus visits, the next scheduled for Monday, August 31.
Juanole closed by acknowledging the associations and commission members whose sustained commitment brings these projects to life. The formal session gave way to open conversation between residents and officials, giving citizens room to ask questions and put forward ideas.
Whether the House of Outdoor Activities opens on schedule in spring 2027, and how the public service delegation process shapes its management, will be the clearest test of how well Tuesday’s plans translate into services residents can actually use.
Full details are available at https://www.lindependant.fr/2026/08/13/lamanere-finances-travaux-et-projets-au-coeur-de-la-reunion-publique-13507415.php.