Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the transfer of $824,049.22 from the Department of Finance General Fund, Citywide Account to the Sustainable Columbus Fund the for the purpose of further supporting a range of energy management and alternative energy, and sustainability initiatives to benefit the greater Columbus community.
Ordinance 1554-2021 established the Sustainable Columbus Fund to support initiatives that include but are not limited to the following: community education and outreach, grants, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency projects, training, workforce development, administrative costs incurred by the City, and other activities related to clean energy, energy efficiency, and sustainability initiatives. This ordinance will further support a range of energy management, alternative energy, and Sustainability initiatives that benefit the greater Columbus community.
Emergency Justification: This ordinance is submitted as an emergency so as to allow these financial transactions to be posted in the city's accounting system as soon as possible to allow divisions to operate without interruption through the end of 2024. Up to date financial posting promotes accurate accounting and financial management.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes the transfer of $824,049.22 from the Department of Finance General Fund, Citywide Account to the Sustainable Columbus Fund.
Title
To authorize the transfer of $824,049.22 from the Department of Finance Citywide Account to the Sustainable Columbus Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($824,049.22)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1554-2021 authorized the establishment of the Sustainable Columbus Fund; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this Special Revenue Fund is to provide support to a range of clean energy, energy efficiency, and sustainability initiatives to benefit the greater Columbus community. Some of these initiatives may include but are not limited to the following: community education and outreach, grants, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency projects, training, workforce development, administrative costs incurred by the City, and other activities related to clean energy, energy efficiency, and sustainability initiatives; and
WHEREAS, these activities will benefit the community by providing resources to enhance knowledge of and access to alternative forms of energy, providing community grants to provide economic assistance for alternative energy adoption, investments in local energy infrastructure, and other programs related to alternative energy and green/sustainability initiatives designed to reduce the community’s carbon emissions; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Finance and Management Department to authorize the transfer from the Department of Finance Citywide account in the amount of $824,049.22 to the Sustainable Columbus Fund to support energy management and energy alternatives.
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Auditor to transfer funds, and make additional appropriations to allow the Department of Finance and Management to operate without interruption through the end of 2024, 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 City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer of $824,049.22 or so much thereof as may be needed, from the General Fund Citywide Account Fund 1000, Dept-Div 4501 to the Sustainable Columbus Fund 2260, Dept-Div 4501 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That from the cash in the fund not encumbered for any other purpose, $824,049.22 is hereby appropriated within the Sustainable Columbus Fund, Fund 2260, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That the purpose of this transfer of funds to the Sustainable Columbus Fund is to further support energy management and alternative energy initiatives in the greater Columbus community.
SECTION 5. That for the 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.