Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of an additional $240,000 for fiscal year 2013 within the Franklin County Municipal Court's Special Funds ($202,000 from the computer fund and $38,000 from the probation user fees). The court has two projects assigned for these funds.
The first will allow the Court to purchase replacement desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and computer related products and equipment. The desktop computers and computer related products and equipment being replaced are outdated and/or obsolete. The computer equipment being replaced is used for the operation of applications that are vital to the daily operations of the Court. Replacements of these computers are crucial for continued efficiency, so that the Court can access applications.
The second project is installing audio/video recording systems in the judge's courtrooms. The audio/video recording will allow for; reduce storage demands by keeping files electronically instead of on paper; increase safety & security of court proceedings records as electronic files of court proceedings will be backed up off-site each evening; and reduce the demands on court-reporters for day transcripts. These are a few of the benefits that would be provided by the recordings.
EMERGENCY: Emergency action is requested to allow the start of the projects.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $240,000.00 from the unappropriated balance of the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges special funds for new computers and audio/video recording systems; and to declare an emergency. ($240,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, an appropriation of these funds is necessary in order to update the Court's technology; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges in that it is immediately necessary to undertake said activities, in order for the Court to upgrade their technology all for the immediate preservation of the public health, safety and welfare; now therefore;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the sum of $38,000 be and is hereby appropriated from the unappropriated balance of the special revenue fund, fund 227, subfund 003, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources unappropriated for any other purposes during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, to the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges, department number 2501, oca code 250324, as follows: object level 1 - 02, $38,000 object level 3 -2193.
Section 2. That the sum of $202,000 be and is hereby appropriated from the unappropriated balance of the special revenue fund, fund 227, subfund 001, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources unappropriated for any other purposes during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, to the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges, department number 2501, oca code 250340, as follows: object level 1 - 02, $158,000 object level 2193; $20,000 object level 3 -3336; $24,000 object level 3 -3372
Section 3. That monies appropriated in Section 1 and 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Administrative and Presiding Judge, and that no order shall be drawn or paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor
Section 4. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which 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.