Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to pay operating license fees for the Department's three water treatment plants and authorizes a fund transfer within the Water Operating Fund.
In 1993, the State of Ohio passed House Bill 152, which requires the Division of Water to pay operating license fees for its three water treatment plants (Hap Cremean, Parsons Avenue, and Dublin Road). This fee is based upon the number of service connections. This is the 32nd year for this payment. The fee is payable to the Treasurer, State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency by December 31, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Division of Water allocated $220,000.00 for this payment in the 2024 Water Operating Fund Budget. However, other unexpected or overbudget expenditures within the division have resulted in an object class 03 fund balance less than this amount. $834,954.60 will be transferred between object classes within the Water Operating Fund to support these permit fees, as well as additional professional service encumbrances before year-end. There is sufficient budget authority available in the 2024 Water Operating Fund's Budget to fund the transfer.
$214,307.08 was expended for this purpose in 2023
$213,363.92 was expended for this purpose in 2022
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: This ordinance is being submitted as an emergency measure in order to meet the payment deadline of December 31, 2024 as well as to expedite the funds transfer to support the Division's object class 03 balance before year-end.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to pay operating license fees for the City's three water treatment plants to the Treasurer, State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for the Division of Water; to authorize the transfer of $834,954.60 between object classes in the Water Operating Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $220,000.00 or as much thereof as may be needed from the Water Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency ($220,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio passed House Bill 152 in 1993 requiring the Division of Water to pay operating license fees for three water treatment plants; and
WHEREAS, this fee is based upon the number of service connections. This is the 32nd year for this payment and the current number of service connections is 281,983. This fee is payable to the Treasurer, State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency; and
WHEREAS, the Division of Water has a need to transfer $834,954.60 between object classes within the 2024 Water Operating Fund budget. Funds for the transfer have been identified and are available in Object Class 04 and Object Class 07; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the expenditure of $220,000.00 or as much thereof as may be needed for the payment of this fee; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to authorize the Director to make payment of State of Ohio operating fees to the State of Ohio EPA on or before December 31, 2024; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Public Utilities in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to pay operating license fees to the Treasurer, State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for operating licenses for the Divisions three water treatment plants in order to maintain access without interruption all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Utilities be and is hereby authorized to pay operating license fees to the Treasurer, State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency on or before December 31, 2024 for the Division of Water's three water treatment plants.
SECTION 2. 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 3. That the transfer of $834,954.60 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized between Object Classes within Fund 6000 Water Operating Fund per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $220,000.00 or as much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized in Fund 6000 (Water Operating) object class 03 Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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.