Explanation
Background:
The Division of Income Tax has received repeated requests from taxpayers for the ability to file and pay City income tax on line. The Division actively participated in the recent attempt by the Department of Technology to implement an e-payment engine as a result of those requests. Due to the abandonment of the e-payment engine project by the Dept of Technology, the Division determined it had sufficient need to further enhance taxpayer services and proceeded independently by issuing a Request for Proposal through the Division of Purchasing for an e-payment solution. Through this process, seven (7) proposals were received and evaluated by a committee consisting of representatives of the Division and the Dept of Technology, the Deputy Auditor and the City Treasurer. Subsequent to this document evaluation, each vendor made an oral presentation to the committee. It was determined that GovConnect had the municipal government experience and product which would best serve the needs of the City and its taxpayers. This initial effort with e-payment processing will be used primarily with withholding account documents although extensions are also part of this effort. Withholding accounts produced, in 2003, 85.3% of the tax revenues collected by the Division.
Due to the need to implement this e-payment solution prior to January 1, 2005 and taking into consideration the timeline for completion as submitted by Gov Connect as well as providing for adequate testing, it is requested that this ordinance to be passed as an emergency measure.
Fiscal Impact:
Funds are available within the Finance Department Capital Projects fund for an e-payment engine. Because only the Division of Income Tax is involved at this time, all funds as originally budgeted will not be used. However, the excess funds will be available for other departments or divisions to fund their inclusion into the service originated by the Division.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to enter into contract with GovConnect for the development and implementation of an e-payment processing system for the City Auditor, Division of Income Tax; to authorize and direct the City Auditor to transfer funds within the Finance Department capital fund; to authorize the expenditure of $140,000.00 from the Finance Department capital fund; and to declare an emergency ($140,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, by contracting for the development and implementation of an e-payment processing system, the Division of Income Tax, Office of the Auditor will be able to more expeditiously process certain taxpayers' filings and payments, reduce the amount of paper documents processed by the Division, and better serve the taxpayers of the City of Columbus and of those municipalities contracting with the Division for the administration and collection of local income taxes, and
WHEREAS, it is immediately necessary to enter into contract for the development and implementation of this e-payment processing system to allow ample time therefore and for adequate testing of the system which is to be made available to the public no later that January 1, 2005, and
WHEREAS, in the usual daily operation of the Division of Income Tax, Office of the Auditor, it is necessary to authorize the City Auditor to enter into contract with GovConnect for the development and implementation of an e-payment system for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized to enter into contract with GovConnect for the development and implementation of an e-payment processing system.
Section 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer $61,420.25 within the Department of Finance, department/division number 4501, fund 750 from project number 470020 fire connectivity to project number 470034 income tax E-payment engine.
Section 3. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer $78,579.75 within the Department of Finance, department/division number 4501, fund 750 from project number 452501 geographic information system to project number 470034 income tax E-payment engine.
Section 4. That the expenditure of $140,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized from the Department of Finance, department/division number 4501, fund 750, project number 470034, oca code 470034, object level 1 - 6, object level 3 - 6649.
Section 5. That the 2004 capital improvements budget is hereby amended as follows:
Current 2004 CIB: fund 750, project number 452501, Geographic Information System, $117,786; fund 750, project number 470034, Income Tax E-payment engine, $0
Amended 2004 CIB: fund 750, project number 452501, Geographic Information System, $0; fund 750, project number 470034, Income Tax E-payment engine, $140,000.00.
Section 6. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.