Politics
Saint Germain Des Pres Infrastructure Levy Referendum: Residents Face 2027 Payment Start if Measure Passes
Saint Germain Des Pres residents will face the new levy on commercial property transactions from January 2027, with service changes projected after project approvals in 2028.
How we reported this
The Paris 6th arrondissement council has placed a local infrastructure levy measure on the 15 September 2026 ballot. Voters in Saint Germain Des Pres will decide whether to approve a 1.8 percent charge on new commercial developments above 500 square metres to fund transport links and public space works.
The measure follows a 2025 review by the arrondissement planning office that identified shortfalls in local mobility funding. National rules on municipal referendums require the vote after the council collected 4,200 signatures from registered voters in the area last spring.
Timeline for residents
If approved, the levy applies to transactions recorded from 1 January 2027 onward. Collection begins with the first property filings that month, and the first project contracts are scheduled for tender in the second quarter of 2028. Construction on a new bus priority lane along Rue de Rennes would start in 2029 under the current schedule.
Local businesses report that the added cost would appear in lease renewals from late 2027. Households near the proposed green corridor at Place Saint Germain could see construction noise and temporary street closures beginning in 2029.
Budget figures and next steps
The arrondissement finance document estimates annual revenue of 4.2 million euros once the levy reaches full operation. This figure comes from the 2025 Arrondissement Budget Report, which lists 312 commercial properties meeting the size threshold.
Results will be certified within 10 days of the vote. The council must publish an implementation ordinance by 1 December 2026 if the measure passes, after which the first levy notices go out to property owners in January 2027.