Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This ordinance is needed to accept and appropriate $714,800.00 in grant monies to fund and operate the Ending the HIV Epidemic grant program, for the period March 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025. The total amount funded for this period is $714,800.00.
The purpose of the grant program is to focus resources in jurisdictions with substantial HIV burden to implement strategies, interventions, approaches, and core medical and support services to reduce new HIV infections in the United States. Locally, Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Program funds the provision of medical and support services to any persons living with HIV to agencies that reside/provide direct services in Franklin County. The overarching goal for this initiative is to reduce new HIV infections in the United States to less than 3,000 per year by 2030.
HRSA has tasked CPH to improve the efficiency of the reallocation of funds as necessary in order to minimize unused funds to the greatest extent possible and to maximize the available services and avoid potential penalties as future carryover funds may not be permitted by HRSA. For this reason, it is necessary to authorize the Board of Health to accept any additional awards for the Ending the HIV Epidemic grant program; to authorize the appropriation of any additional awards for the Ending the HIV Epidemic grant program; and to authorize the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Ending the HIV Epidemic grant program.
This ordinance is submitted as an emergency in order to ensure that quality medical care continues to be available to eligible persons living with HIV/AIDS and to ensure timely payment to providers.
FISCAL IMPACT: Ending the HIV Epidemic grant program is entirely funded by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and does not generate revenue or require a City match. ($714,800.00)
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept grant funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the amount of $714,800.00 and any additional funds for the Ending the HIV Epidemic grant program; to authorize the appropriation of $714,800.00 and any additional funds awarded from the unapppropriated balance of the Health Department Grants Fund; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Ending the HIV Epidemic grant program; and to declare an emergency. ($714,800.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $714,800.00 in grant funds have been made available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Ending the HIV Epidemic grant program for the period of March 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these and any additional funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the support of the Ending the HIV Epidemic grant program; and,
WHEREAS, HRSA has tasked CPH to improve the efficiency of the reallocation of funds as necessary in order to minimize unused funds to the greatest extent possible in order to maximize the available services and to avoid potential penalties related to future grants; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary and authorized to allow the City Auditor to transfer and adjust appropriations between object classes for any changes in the estimated award amounts for the Ending the HIV Epidemic grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Board of Health to enter into contracts in order to ensure that quality medical care continues to be available to eligible persons living with HIV/AIDS and to ensure timely payment to providers, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1.That the Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant award of $714,800.00 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Ending the HIV Epidemic grant program for the period March 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the sum of $714,800.00 based on notice of award in Fund 2251 The Health Department Grants Fund per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3.That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Health Commissioner and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept and appropriate any additional grant awards from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Ending the HIV Epidemic grant program for the period March 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Ending the HIV Epidemic grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department.
SECTION 8. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby 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.