Explanation
BACKGROUND: In 2010, Columbus Public Health was awarded a grant from the Ohio Department of Health in the amount of $1,165,767.00 for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness program for the grant period through August 9, 2011. In March, 2011, Columbus Public Health received additional funds from the Ohio Department of Health for this grant in the amount of $1,054,751.00 for the period through July 30, 2011. Due to the time constraints of the grant, not all of the funds could be spent. The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize a refund of unused grant funds and interest income in an amount not to exceed $215,000.00 to the Ohio Department of Health.
The Public Health Emergency Preparedness program established the Franklin County and City of Columbus support network that would be required in the event of bioterrorism activity in the central region of Ohio. The total grant from the Ohio Department of Health was $2,220,518.00, of which $2,005,518.00 was utilized to support Emergency Preparedness Readiness in Central Ohio. Various contracts were awarded that supported the need for mass infrastructure and communication systems. The time period of the contracts was March 18, 2011 through July 30, 2011. When the contract period expired, several of the contractors' final invoices were less than their appropriated contract amount, and Franklin County Public Health was unable to utilize the entire amount they were allocated, all due to the short contract period. Furthermore, several of the projects proposed for this grant were cancelled because of time constraints and the inability to comply with the grantor's deliverables by the grant's end date of July 30, 2011. The interest that was earned on this grant is also being returned, as required by the Ohio Department of Health, and is included in the amount being refunded to the grantor.
This ordinance is submitted as an emergency to comply with the Ohio Department of Health GAPP Federal requirement that unspent funds must be returned within forty-five (45) days of the grant end date of August 9, 2011.
FISCAL IMPACT: Monies for this refund are available within the Health Department Grants Fund, Fund No. 251, 2010-11 Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant Project. It is necessary to transfer $215,000 of appropriation authority from Object Level One - 03, Services, to Object Level One - 05, Other Expenditures within the Health Department Grants Funds in order to refund the unused grant funds and interest income to the Ohio Department of Health
Title
To authorize Columbus Public Health to return unused grant funds and interest income from the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program to the Ohio Department of Health; to authorize a refund in an amount not to exceed $215,000.000 from the Health Department Grants Fund; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer funds from Object Level One 03 to Object Level One 05; and to declare an emergency. ($215,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus Public Health is required to return unused grant funds from the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program to the Ohio Department of Health; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to transfer $215,000 of appropriation authority from Object Level One - 03, Services, to Object Level One - 05, Other Expenditures within the Health Department Grants Funds in order to refund unused grant funds and interest income to the Ohio Department of Health; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to return unspent grant monies to the Ohio Department of Health for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; Now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer $215,000.00 of appropriation authority within the Health Department Grants Fund, Fund No. 251, Department of Health No. 50-01, as follows:
TRANSFER FROM:
OCA: 501055; Grant No. 501055; Object Level 01:03; Amount $215,000.00
TRANSFER TO:
OCA: 501055; Grant No. 501055; Object Level 01:05; Amount $215,000.00
SECTION 2. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized to refund unspent grant monies from the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program to the Ohio Department of Health in the amount not to exceed $215,000.00.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure not to exceed $215,000.00 is hereby authorized from the Health Department Grants Fund, Fund No. 251, Division No. 50-01, OCA Code 501055, 501122, 501123, 501124; Grant No. 501055, Object Level One 05, Object Level Three 5515. (Amount to be determined based on interest earned)
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes necessary to ensure that these funds are properly accounted for and recorded accurately on the City's financial records.
SECTION 5. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.