When he scrolls through the list of his meals outside on his bank statement, Arnaud, a 48-year-old mayor, only sees small expenses. “Kebab, tacos, pizzeria… Ah, a brasserie! », exclaims the man who was elected mayor for the first time in 2014 in a town of nearly 13,000 inhabitants. In total, he spends 100 euros per month on these meals. “I try not to show any external signs of wealth, that should be avoided. I paid for a Michelin-starred restaurant for my parents for the first time in my life last year,” reveals the councilor, based in a department bordering Île-de-France.
Re-elected in 2020, he would be entitled to (gross) compensation of more than 2,500 euros. The same as for his position as president of the community of communes. A maximum amount fixed according to the number of administrators of the municipality he manages. But this civil servant in a ministry, head of a small team of four people, wanted not to take his full allowance.