Garda Uno Sees 18.5% Revenue Growth, Expands Municipal Membership
The 1999 fiscal year closed with a budget of 22 billion 376 million lire, representing an increase of approximately 3.5 billion lire, or 18.5% compared to the previous year. The approval was unanimous during the Assembly of shareholders convened the other evening to discuss not only the financial statements but also other significant items on the agenda, including the replacement of a resigning councilor, postponed to next September.
Also of particular importance was the unanimously approved request from the municipality of Pozzolengo to become a part of Consorzio Garda Uno. This request was regarded as very encouraging by all members, especially considering it is the second such request (the first was last year from Calvagese della Riviera), made in a very short period, bringing the number of subscribing municipalities, in addition to the Province of Brescia, to 20.
Economic Results and Company Activities
Regarding the Financial Statements for 1999, it is worth noting that the company closed with a profit of 500 million lire, which after taxes was reduced to 75 million 366 thousand lire. Its revenue value exceeded 18 billion lire.
“A positive trend,” stated Advisor Quechia during his report, “marked by the rapid opening of the market across various services, coupled with increased competitiveness among existing operators and new entrants, often represented by large companies.”
The dynamism observed also affected the Garda Uno Special Company, which in 1999 launched a series of initiatives that culminated, beyond the transformation into an SPA, in two corporate structures: one in the field of energy saving via a Consortium among Large Users (including Azienda Gardesana Servizi, Gardaland, Caneva, Franke, Clinica Pederzoli, etc.), and another in the environmental sector, focusing on composting activities of organic waste and “green” waste fraction, with the BIOCICLO company formed jointly with TEA (Mantova’s municipal company) and INTDEPCAST of Castiglione.
1999 has been repeatedly described as a year of “substantial consolidation of activities,” marked by the completion of initiatives planned back in 1988.
Waste Collection and Water Resource Management
In the Urban Solid Waste Collection sector, the number of employees increased from 39 at the end of ’98 to 56 at the end of ’99 (totaling 92 across the entire company structure). The volume of collected quantities, including “differentiated collection,” exceeded 50,000 tons annually.
The situation regarding Integrated Water Management is also excellent, with the vast majority of member municipalities already approving participation.
New favorable developments for the company are occurring these days, confirming growing confidence from both established members and new participants.
Additionally, Province of Brescia, besides providing financing for the purchase of a new algae-cutting sweep boat, has also increased funding for lake cleaning efforts. Furthermore, “it has proposed an agreement, signed with the company last March, which commissions us,” explains Guido Maruelli, president of the Consorzio, “to design, build, and manage the sewerage system for the upper lake, with the allocation of a substantial contribution.”