Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of $50,000.00 from the Development - Taxable Bond Fund to cover personnel costs incurred by the Department of Development’s Division of Housing’s inspection of bond eligible projects.
The Division of Housing’s Homeowner Services Center has grant programs that assist individuals and families with remaining in their homes and live independently in a safe and sound environment. Programs include: Emergency Repair, Roof Replacement, and Critical Home Repair. These programs are currently bond funded or had been bond funded in the past but are now funded with Community Development Block Grant funds. Once a project at a home is approved, City staff engage a contractor to do the work, and then City staff inspect the work before deeming the project complete.
Division staff who inspect the projects are budgeted in the General Fund. They track their time inspecting bond eligible projects and each quarter, the department does an expenditure correction to move the inspection expense to bond funds. In years past, the expense was charged to a blanket Auditor’s Certificate Purchase Order (ACPO). Beginning this year, the department desires to establish a dedicated Auditor’s Certificate Direct Invoice (ACDI) for this expense. New ACDI’s will be established in future years as needed.
Emergency action is requested in order to move expenses timely and maintain an accurate General Fund budget.
Fiscal Impact: $50,000.00 is available in the 2023 Capital Improvement Budget, Development Taxable bond fund. An amendment to the 2023 Capital Budget is required to establish sufficient budget authority for the project.
Title
To amend the 2023 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the appropriation of $50,000.00 from Development Taxable Bond Fund to cover personnel costs incurred by the Department of Development’s Division of Housing’s inspection of bond eligible projects; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development’s Division of Housing’s Homeowner Services Center has grant programs that assist individuals and families with remaining in their homes and live independently in a safe and sound environment. Programs include: Emergency Repair, Roof Replacement, and Critical Home Repair; and
WHEREAS, once a project at a home is approved, City staff engage a contractor to do the work, and then City staff inspect the work before deeming the project complete; and
WHEREAS, City staff track their time inspecting bond eligible projects and each quarter, the Department of Development does an expenditure correction to move the inspection expense to bond funds;
WHEREAS, it is desired that the City Auditor set up an Auditor’s Certificate Direct Invoice (ACDI) dedicated to this expense for easier accounting; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to transfer and expend funds for this expense from Development Taxable Bond Fund 7739.
Whereas, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary in order to move expenses timely and maintain an accurate General Fund budget., thereby preserving 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 2023 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1711-2023 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / C.I.B. / Change / C.I.B. as Amended
7739 / P782001-100000 / Housing Preservation (Unvoted Carryover) / $735,014.00 / ($50,000.00) / $685,014.00
7739 / P782033-100000 / Homeowner Services Inspection (Unvoted Carryover) / $0.00 / $50,000.00 / $50,000.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $50,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7739 (Development - Taxable), from Dept-Div 4410 (Housing) P782001-100000 to P782033-100000 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is authorized to establish an auditor's certificate in the amount of $50,000.00 for the inspection expense of Department of Development staff for bond eligible projects completed under the Department's Emergency Repair, Roof Replacement, and Critical Home Repair programs.
SECTION 4. For the purposes stated in Section 3, the expenditure of up to $50,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from the Development Taxable Bond Fund, Fund 7739, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 6. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 8. 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.