IVREA. Increases in sight for Ivrea families in terms of school meals. Increases, starting from September 2021, which will be around 19% on average, according to the calculations made by the administration. Unavoidable increases following the new tender for the assignment of the canteen service which recorded a cost increased by 30% compared to that of seven years ago. The new tariffs were approved in recent days to coincide with the budget. In fact, last week the Municipality published the announcement for the assignment of the school lunch service and for municipal employees: 5,879,618 euros for four years, with the possibility of an extension for another two.
Band 1 (Isee 0-1,500 euros) the monthly increase, calculated on 20 meals, is 5 euros. From 55 to 80 cents per meal (+ 45%). Band 2 (Isee 1,501-5,000 euros) 10 euros of monthly increase. The cost of a single meal goes from 1.5 to 2 euros (+ 33%). Band 3 (Isee 5,001-10,000) increase of 15 euros. From € 2.50 to € 3.25 per meal (+ 30%). Band 4 (Isee over 10,001 euros), increase of 20 euros, from 4.90 to 5.90 euros per meal (+ 20%). For those with more than one child in bracket 4 (discounted sibling rate) an increase of 20 euros, from 4.50 to 5.50 euros per meal. Non-residents increase of 14 euros, from 6.80 to 7.50 euros per meal (+ 10%).
Band 1 (Isee 0-1,500 euros) the monthly increase is 4 euros, from 0.55 to 0.75 cents per meal (+ 36%). Band 2 (Isee 1,501-5,000 euros) increase of 8 euros per month, from 1.40 to 1.80 euros per meal (+ 28%). Band 3 (Isee 5,001-10,000) increase of 12 euros, from 2.40 to 3 euros per meal (+ 25%). Band 4 (over € 10,001), monthly increase of € 18, from € 4.70 to € 5.60 per meal (+ 19%). For those who have more than one child attending the same school (discounted rate) 19 euros increase, from 4.25 to 5.20 euros per meal. Non-residents increase of 12 euros, from 6.50 to 7.10 per meal (+ 9%).
“It is the intention of the administration – explains the councilor for education systems Giorgia Povolo – to proceed with the preparation of a municipal regulation aimed at safeguarding those who find themselves in a particular condition of economic hardship (certified by the competent social services), for which the Municipality will intervene by fully covering the cost of the canteen service ».
There are many reasons for the increases: a cost per food much higher than what was determined in the last tender. Furthermore, in recent years, in addition to the cost of foodstuffs having increased (also due to an increase, by law, in the percentage of organic products), there has been an increase in the cost of labor relating to company personnel. contractors.
“It is also necessary to take into account that the Municipality can no longer make its too old cooking center available to the contractor company – adds Councilor Povolo – and likewise it has not been possible to complete the process for the construction of a new one, due to the unavailability of competing companies. It follows that the future contractor will have to have its own cooking center available for the school lunch service ».
With the aim of limiting the increase in the costs of the tender, a contractual duration of 4 years has been defined (with possible renewal for another 2), allowing competing companies to amortize investment costs over several years compared to past. «We have therefore come to identify an estimated increase of about 30% compared to the previous tender, an increase which could be followed by a decrease in the tender phase – comments Povolo -. However, it was the administration’s explicit desire to maintain a high quality level of the service, with strict specifications and rewarding the offers that will further raise the level. In addition, a system for the attribution of scores will be applied which envisages weighing the criteria referring to the quality of the service for 70% and the remaining 30% will instead be destined for economic evaluation ”. This means that there shouldn’t be any big drops. “In any case – explains the councilor – we wanted to cover with the resources of the municipal budget an important percentage of the increase in costs, so as not to burden entirely on the families of the pupils and on the municipal employees”.
During the current school year, due to the pandemic still in progress, measures have been adopted to ensure a high level of health and hygiene safety, which have provided for a total reorganization of the canteen service. «In the face of a substantial increase in costs – concludes Povolo – the Municipality has intervened with its own resources without weighing on families. For the next to school, if the pandemic situation persists, in addition to the higher costs incurred for the purchase of disposable material, the increase in the staff employed in the contractor company to allow the distribution of meals directly within the classrooms, are added hence the higher costs dictated by the new tender ». –