Explanation
Background: This legislation will authorize the City Attorney to modify and extend by twelve additional months the existing contracts approved by Ordinance 0480-2020, with collection agents Capital Recovery Systems, Inc., Law Offices of Robert A. Schuerger Co., LPA, and Scott W. Schiff & Associates Co., LPA, and will authorize the payment of court costs and the reimbursement of any overpayments collected from the Collection Fees fund. This fund is generated by fees collected by collection agents and used to pay the associated collection costs due.
The additional time is needed for the continuity of the service due to operational changes and implementation of new case management applications in 2022, in both the City Attorney’s office and the Income Tax Division of the City Auditor’s office.
Emergency: Emergency declaration is requested so the collection process can continue without interruption.
Contract Compliance Numbers:
Capital Recovery Systems, Inc., 31-1570459, CC005578 expires 06/09/2022
Law Offices of Robert A. Schuerger Co., LPA, 35-2353532, CC017436 expires 02/26/2022
Scott W. Schiff & Associates Co., LPA, 31-1589981, CC005619 expires 01/20/2023
These companies are neither debarred according to the Excluded Party Listing System of the Federal Government nor prohibited from being awarded a contract according to the Auditor of State Unresolved Findings for Recovery Certified Search.
Fiscal Impact: These contracts are self-funding and will result in additional revenues to the general fund. The agents are paid fees from the money they collect. One hundred percent of monies collected are remitted to the city and invoices from the collection agencies are paid from the funds collected.
Title
To authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $300,000.00 from the Collection Fees fund; to authorize the City Attorney to modify and extend the contracts with Capital Recovery Systems, Inc., Law Offices of Robert A. Schuerger Co., LPA, and Scott W. Schiff & Associates Co., LPA for the collection of delinquent accounts; and to declare an emergency. ($300,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, ordinance 0480-2020 authorized the City Attorney to enter into contracts for a two (2) year term, renewable annually, with Capital Recovery Systems, Inc., Law Offices of Robert A. Schuerger Co., LPA, and Scott W. Schiff & Associates Co., LPA, for the provision of debt collection services; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance will authorize the City Attorney to modify and extend these contracts for an additional twelve (12) months, through January 31, 2023, in order to provide continuity in services while operational changes are being made and new case management applications are being implemented in the City Attorney’s office and in the Income Tax Division of the City Auditor’s office; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Attorney's Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney to modify and extend the collections contracts with Capital Recovery Systems, Inc., Law Offices of Robert A. Schuerger Co., LPA, and Scott W. Schiff & Associates Co., LPA, , and to expend additional appropriated funds so the collection process will not be interrupted and for the preservation of public peace, property, health, safety and welfare, now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney is authorized and directed to enter into a contract modification and extension through January 31, 2023, with Capital Recovery Systems, Inc. for debt collection services for an additional $300,000.00 up to a maximum amount of $1,500,000.00.
SECTION 2. That the City Attorney is authorized and directed to enter into a contract modification and extension through January 31, 2023, with Law Offices of Robert A. Schuerger Co., LPA for debt collection services in the maximum amount of $1,000,000.00.
SECTION 3. That the City Attorney is authorized and directed to enter into a contract modification and extension through January 31, 2023, with Scott W. Schiff & Associates Co., LPA for debt collection services in the maximum amount of $1,000,000.00.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate up to $300,000.00 in the Collection Fees fund, fund 2295 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of up to $300,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from department 24, Collection Fees fund, fund number 2295 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance. Auditor’s Office is authorized to make changes to Subfunds as needed to carry out the purpose of this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance 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 for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared 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.