Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health has been awarded a two-month extension for the HIV Prevention Grant Program from the Ohio Department of Health. This ordinance authorizes the Board of Health to accept and appropriate an additional $115,955.00 in grant monies to fund HIV Prevention Grant Program, for the period of January 1, 2023 through July 31, 2024. The new total award amount is $2,264,815.00. Underlying Ordinances for the HIV Prevention Grant Program are referenced in Ordinance No. 3349-2022 and 3470-2023.
The HIV Prevention Grant program enables Columbus Public Health to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate HIV counseling and testing/referral; partner counseling; and health education/risk reduction behavior modification programs. Services are provided to residents of Columbus and Franklin County, with special emphasis on men who have sex with men, individuals with high-risk sexual contact, youth, and injection drug/substance users.
Emergency action is requested to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the City's accounting system as soon as possible. Up to date financial posting promotes accurate accounting and financial management to meet deliverables required by grantor and reduces the risk of being in forfeiture of grant funds.
FISCAL IMPACT: The HIV Prevention grant program is entirely funded by the Ohio Department of Health and does not generate revenue or require a City Match. ($115,955.00)
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept a two-month grant extension from Ohio Department of Health in the amount of $115,955.00 for HIV Prevention Grant Program, for a new total award amount of $2,264,815.00, and a new grant period of January 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024; to authorize the appropriation of $115,955.00 from the unappropriated balance of the Health Department Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($115,955.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $115,955.00 in additional grant funds have been made available through the Ohio Department of Health for the HIV Prevention Grant Program as a two-month extension for the period of January 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these funds from the Ohio Department of Health for the continued support of HIV Prevention Grant Program; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to allow the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes and grant numbers for the HIV Prevention Grant Program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department to carry out the purpose of the grant; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Board of Health to accept these grant funds from the Ohio Department of Health and to appropriate these funds to Columbus Public Health due to the grant extension start date of June 1, 2024, to not delay the funding for essential grant personnel, and for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare, and to avoid delay in client services; 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 two-month grant extension award of $115,955.00 from the Ohio Department of Health for the HIV Prevention Grant Program, for a new total award amount of $2,264,815.00, and a new grant period of January 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024.
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 grant period ended July 31, 2024, the sum of $115,955.00 is hereby appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement to The Health Department Grants Fund, Fund 2251, Department of Health, Division 5001, 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 City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes and grant numbers for the HIV Prevention Grant Program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department to carry out the purpose of the grant.
SECTION 7. 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.