After the protests over the January price hikes, the cost of food stamps was reduced by twenty cents
CONEGLIANO. There is a reduction in the rates of school canteens. Each meal will cost 20 cents less than expected. The complaints of parents in January also served to bring a “discount” on meal vouchers from September 2021.
THE RESOLUTION
“Calmier prices by sharing in the expense to reduce the impact of the cost of the meal for the families of the pupils, in consideration of the persistence of the economic crisis”, this is the motivation that prompted the prefectural commissioner Antonello Roccoberton and the municipal managers to decide the reduction . The expected difference of about 55 thousand euros, to which the expenditure of 55 thousand euros for the increase due to the anti-Covid tasks is added, will be covered with resources of the Municipality. In total therefore 110 thousand euros of indirect contribution. The meal voucher for kindergartens and primary schools drops to € 4.30, € 4.70 for middle schools. There are also deductions for low-income families: with Isee less than 7 thousand euros, the children’s lunch will cost 3.60 euros, with Isee up to 10 thousand euros, 3.80 euros, with Isee up to 15 thousand euros, 4 ,10 euros. For non-residents, however, the voucher is unchanged at € 4.70.
THE CONTRACT
A week ago, the contract for Ottavian Catering was ratified, which will manage the canteen service and meals at home for the next five years. The contract is estimated to be worth around 5 million euros. In recent days, Commissioner Roccoberton signed the resolution that will allow to obtain the subsidy of 20 cents per meal for all students, which will mean a saving of several tens of euros for each family.
THE INCREASES OF JANUARY
Rates had been raised in January, with parents complaining that no communications had arrived. Since February there has already been a small decrease, so from September the new reduced rate will come into force. The manager of the finance office, Stefano Di Lena, gave the communication to the families, through the Ecivis portal. The rates will be valid until December, the confirmed one will be evaluated in the 2022 budget. With the election of a new administration, whatever it may be, it is easy to predict that school canteens will not have increasing variations, to avoid a “sting” that would have repercussions on political equilibrium.