Vendramini: “Ours will be a just battle” Sala: “We are also penalized by the Imu levy”
Irene Aliprandi / belluno
An appeal against the disparities created by the extraordinary funds. The situation is increasingly tense in the 21 municipalities of the province excluded from the Border Municipalities Fund, the Letta Fund and the Funds for inland areas, measures created to support disadvantaged territories which have proved invaluable, but also a double-edged sword, because that over the years they have moved the perimeter of privileges, leaving a part of the province out of any benefit.
The Belluno politics has been aware of this for some time and for this reason large area projects and optimal areas were born, which however do not level the inequalities and often become a reason for discord among the mayors. As if that weren’t enough, too much money has been stuck for years due to the inability of the common beneficiaries to spend it. All this has raised the level of discontent which is becoming explosive and more than one mayor, among those excluded, begins to doubt the constitutional legitimacy of these funds.
In fact, there is a confrontation taking place between the 21 so-called third-tier municipalities, now united in a network, among which the idea of taking action is maturing.
“We intend to implement all the necessary actions to draw attention to this problem and undertake a fair battle”, confirms the mayor of Ponte nelle Alpi, Paolo Vendramini, who gives the example of his municipality. “Our neighbors benefit from our services: schools, transport, social. I think of Soverzene but also of Longarone, but they don’t think of us. With all due respect, Soverzene has 350 inhabitants, Ponte has 9,000, but they receive a million a year, us zero. It is clear that this cannot work, I believe that certain rules are now out of date ». Vendramini also tries to joke about it, but if he could he would do it seriously: “I was thinking of buying ten meters of land in Soverzene on the border with Friuli, so the money also comes to us”.
The mayor of Alano, Serenella Bogana, lives in the same situation and is inflamed by recalling a meeting in which the funds were extended to all the municipalities to help them deal with the pandemic: “I heard first-tier mayors say” but that is the last time”. There are cases of gluttony that outrage me and if I think about unspent funds, one should be ashamed. It is clear that extraordinary funds are welcome and I am happy for those who have them, also because the vast area has extended the planning, but we are becoming the periphery of the periphery and the inequalities are angering. We are talking about public money, are we sure that it is constitutional to use it like this? And what results have been achieved? I propose a conference like “Fondi Odi 10 years later, where are we?”, Because it seems to me that very little has changed in the municipalities that have them. I don’t see the population increasing and on those golden pavements the same number of inhabitants always walk, if not less. I believe that the solution is to make the entire province of Belluno the beneficiary of the extraordinary funds ”, says Bogana.
In tourist municipalities there is an additional problem, as explained by the mayor of Borca di Cadore, Bortolo Sala: «We are excluded from all extraordinary funds and in addition we have to pay 64% of the IMU to the state equalization fund. Borca does not receive any government transfers and moreover pays 870 thousand euros per year to the state. Three years ago we appealed against this levy and I hope they agree with us, because it is unsustainable ». And speaking of the Imu withdrawal, Cortina beats all records by paying the State 11 million euros a year. “For me it would be enough if they left me the money from the IMU,” adds Sala. “Large area projects are fine, but they are only for large areas of 8-10 municipalities. If in Borca there is a need to do something, there is no money. Yes, I’m angry, because there are those who receive 500,000 euros a year with a grant and can build pavements of gold, while I struggle to plug the holes in the asphalt ». –
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