Varese approves 10,8 million loan for the new theater

Context

In brief

• The City Council approves the budget adjustment
• Total investment rises to approximately 22 million euros
• The loan from Cassa Depositi e Prestiti reaches 10,8 million
• The vote ends with 19 in favor and 8 against

• Date → giovedì 1 ottobre
• Place → Villa Recalcati
• Investment → approximately 22 million euros
• Expenditure adjustment → approximately 3,35 million euros
• Loan → 10,8 million euros
• Entity → Cassa Depositi e Prestiti
• Votes → 19 in favor and 8 against
• GSE contribution temporarily replaced → 1,195 million euros

The Varese City Council approved the budget adjustment for the new theater that is expected to be built on the site of the former Politeama. The decision came on giovedì 1 ottobre, at the session held at Villa Recalcati: 19 councilors voted in favor and 8 against. The result confirmed the division between the majority and minority.

With the adjustment, total investment is brought to approximately 22 million euros. The figures were presented by Budget Councillor Ivana Buzzetti, who gave two reasons for the update. The first concerns the temporary replacement of the GSE contribution intended for energy efficiency improvements. The ranking, she explained, does not currently appear to have been reopened, although the application submitted remains valid. The second reason is the request to adjust the prices and the project's overall design.

The adjustment and funding sources

The accounting result of the change is an expenditure adjustment quantified at approximately 3,35 million euros. Of this amount, 1,195 million is linked to the temporary loss of the GSE contribution. The previous framework provided for 500 thousand euros in provincial contribution, 1,5 million in municipal surplus, 6,27 million in loan financing, 9,4 million in regional contribution and 1,19 million in GSE contribution.

With the new arrangement, the funding sources were redefined. The Province's 500 thousand euros remain, while the Municipality contributes 1,5 million from unrestricted surplus. The Region contributes 9,4 million and the loan is increased to 10,8 million euros. The new framework temporarily replaces the GSE share with a larger loan component, without changing the other amounts reported in the adjustment.

Operational details

The debate in the council

The opposition voted against it, bringing back into the council debate the arguments already presented in committee. Lega councillors Monti and Angei focused above all on the location of the project. In their view, it would have been preferable to expand or make the theatre in Piazza Repubblica permanent, rather than build the new structure on the site of the former Politeama.

The disagreement also concerns the nature of the site. Fondazione Molina granted the Municipality surface rights for 90 years, but ownership of the property belongs to an entity other than the municipal authority. For Lega councillors, this characteristic weighs in the assessment of the project. Their objections also included the costs which, in their view, would fall on the residents of Varese and future municipal administrations.

Guido Bonoldi, a representative of Lavoriamo per Varese, took part in the debate. His reference to the origins of the agreement goes back to spring 2021, when he was president of Fondazione Molina and signed the agreement between the Foundation and the Municipality. The Foundation, which owns the former Politeama property, had granted the Municipality surface rights for 90 years to allow the construction of the new theatre as part of the programme agreement.

This brought the relationship between the construction project and the private site back into the council discussion, one of the points contested by the minority. Bonoldi reconstructed the role of the agreement signed in 2021 and the possibility of using the former Politeama property for the municipal project.

Councillor for Culture Enzo Laforgia referred to the points already highlighted in the interview given to VareseNews. His position was summed up in the idea that the new theatre should not be considered the theatre of a single administration, but that of the entire city of Varese. Thus, the debate kept the criticisms concerning the site, ownership and costs distinct from the vision of the project as a city-wide initiative.

Key points

What happens now

The loan linked to progress on the works

The approved change also defines how the new financing is to be used. The 10,8-million loan is structured as a flexible loan with a pre-amortization period from Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. It can be disbursed according to the progress of the works, in relation to the progress of the project indicated in the spending schedule. To optimize financial costs, the entity chose to split the amount into 7,57 million for 2027 and 3,23 million for 2028.

The spending review clause

The resolution also includes a clause linked to the national legislation on spending review, referred to as Article 1, paragraph 8, of Law 207/2024. The clause provides for the setting aside of resources for 2026 and 2027. Once established in the financial statement, those sums will have to be allocated to the gradual reduction of the portion of the loan originally authorized for the theater. The mechanism set out in the measure therefore links the use of the resources to their ascertainment in the financial statement and the subsequent reduction of the authorized portion of the loan.

The source also specifies that the replacement of the GSE contribution is temporary and that the application submitted remains valid, even though the ranking for energy efficiency does not currently appear to have been reopened.

The spaces envisaged by the project

Regarding the works, it emerged in committee that the current structure of the former Politeama will be demolished before construction of the new theater. The project also provides for the use of other adjacent spaces, including the former offices of the social services department. Bonoldi linked the closure of the Tezenis store, which previously occupied the building, to this need: according to his recollection, Fondazione Molina did not renew the contract specifically to free up the space needed for the project.

The framework outlined after the vote therefore includes the loan’s annual allocations, the disbursement linked to progress on the works and the reduction clause, together with the demolition of the existing structure and the use of the nearby areas envisaged by the project.

Source: varesenews.it