Pardubice want to forgive the Sokol association the debt for the renovation of the Sokol hall

Pardubice - The gymnastic unit will most likely not have to repay the entire debt for the renovation of the gymnasium to the city of Pardubice. Councilors are proposing to the representatives that they forgive the amount of 28.5 million crowns at Thursday's meeting. Jiří Rozinek (ČSSD), the Deputy Mayor, said this to ČTK today.

The unit has already repaid a small part of the loan, but the municipality will still demand part of it. The gymnasts borrowed a total of 40 million crowns from the city. The money went towards project documentation as well as paying invoices, because the repairs became more expensive due to the poor condition of the building.

The representatives will approve the repayment of a debt of 8.8 million crowns, which the gymnasts should repay by 2057. "If they make regular repayments, there would be options for further discounts of up to 1.4 million crowns," Rozinek added.

The unit must be in good financial condition because it received European subsidies for the renovation of the building, which require the recipients to maintain the project in its agreed form for five years. The city, which participated in the subsidy project, wants to reduce the risk that either the municipality or the gymnasts would have to return the subsidies.

"It is the best solution that can be considered," Rozinek said. In the case of problems, the gymnasts would have to repay 60 million crowns and the city 38 million crowns, Rozinek added.

The gymnasts completed the construction of their gym in 1921. The building, which has an H-shaped footprint in a modern style with classic elements, was built on the site of a summer gym. The building underwent renovations in the 1920s and 30s, and then again in the 1950s. A complete reconstruction in the new millennium lasted two years and was completed in 2015.

Original project estimates put the costs at 90 million crowns, which eventually rose to 128 million crowns. The unit received 60 million crowns from European subsidies, which was ten million crowns less than expected due to project errors. Seven years ago, the gymnasts also renovated the outdoor area with the help of European subsidies.

The municipality considered several options for settling the debt, from transferring the property of Sokola to the city, to extending the loan repayment period, to the city enforcing the claim. Ultimately, the option received the most support in which the city forgives a larger portion of the debt and allows long-term repayment.

"We will acquire financial resources for debt repayment through increased membership fees," said the mayor of Sokola, Lenka Pařízková. The membership base has around 2000 active members.