Lazise Parish Debt Solutions: Property, Loans, and Funding Options
Disposing of the rectory and building a smaller, more modern one, taking out a significant bank loan, or immediately initiating a series of small loans from parishioners and paying suppliers to settle the parish’s debt. These are the three options discussed Friday evening at the youth center during the crowded assembly where Don Alessandro Pasquini, the new pastor of Lazise, met with families to present the pastoral activities and officially announce the parish’s debt situation of the church of Saints Zenone and Martino following major restoration works on the parish church and part of the theater.
The latter works are currently on hold. The debt with suppliers is around 2,700,000 euros, and this is beginning to concern Don Alessandro, who initially involved Bishop Carraro, then the people of Lazise. Parishioners have immediately proposed several solutions.
Proposals and decisions regarding property management
The proposed sale of the rectory, which is currently very compromised internally and could be declared uninhabitable, was not well received. It is a large and costly structure for parish management, and the parish priest is considering building a new rectory, more accessible and functional, perhaps above the current theater under restoration.
With the proceeds from selling the “old” property, the new rectory could be financed, and a large part of the debts owed to suppliers could be paid off. From the assembly, there was also a proposal to sell the parish building of the youth center, built 30 years ago by Father Giuseppe Boaretto with extensive volunteer effort.
Mortgage prospects and additional resources
With current interest rates, which have reached the lowest level of the last forty years, taking out a bank loan might be a temporary solution to partially satisfy creditors. On Friday the 16th, after convening the parish financial committee, Don Alessandro will meet again with families to review the decisions to be made to set the operational machinery in motion.
It should be noted that the parish, with Father Edoardo, managed to pay about one and a half billion lire in 1999 and 2000. Meanwhile, the technical committee of the Veneto Architectural Heritage Superintendence is expected to visit Lazise on Wednesday to inspect the completed works.
If the inspection is successful, a significant contribution for the parish could result — potentially up to forty percent of the expenses. The application for funding has also been submitted to the Region, which is currently conducting its review.
Support from the municipal administration
Finally, the Lazise municipal administration has approved a contribution of 155 million lire for the parishes (Lazise, Pacengo, and Colà), in compliance with regulations concerning urban development charges for private developments, for the years 2001-2003.
