Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation amends Ordinance 1230-2026, which was approved by Columbus City Council on June 1, 2026. That ordinance authorized the Director of the Office of Education to enter into a contract with United Way of Central Ohio, Inc. (UWCO) for the purposes of UWCO acting as fiscal agent for the 2026-2027 AIMS Columbus program, to assist in the planning and coordinating of the needed services, and to distribute funds and program supports to after school providers. The ordinance also authorized an expenditure of $2,000,000.00 from the general fund. In order for UWCO to serve as fiscal agent and distribute funds to providers, they would need to have the funds up-front, and this ordinance did not specifically state that an advance payment to UWCO was needed. Therefore, this ordinance is to specifically authorize the Office of Education to make an advance payment to UWCO.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested as the program has already commenced and it is crucial to allocate these funds to the providers.
Fiscal Impact: There is no fiscal impact associated with this ordinance. See ACPO013226 from previous ordinance 1230-2026.
Title
To amend Ordinance 1230-2026 to specifically authorize the Office of Education to make an advance, lump-sum payment to the United Way of Central Ohio (UWCO), so that UWCO may act as fiscal agent for the 2026-2027 AIMS Columbus, and distribute funds to providers; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1230-2026 authorized the Director of the Office of Education to enter into a contract with United Way of Central Ohio, Inc. (UWCO) for the purposes of UWCO acting as fiscal agent for the 2026-2027 AIMS Columbus program, to assist in the planning and coordinating of the needed services, and to distribute funds and program supports to after school providers; and
WHEREAS, after passage of Ordinance 1230-2026 it was determined the Office of Education did not specifically request that the Office be authorized to provide an advance payment to UWCO so that they may act as fiscal agent for the program and distribute funds to providers; and
WHEREAS, the City Auditor’s Office has requested that the Office of Education amend ordinance 1230-2026 in order for an advance, lump-sum payment be authorized; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operations of the Office of the Department of Education in that funds are unable to be distributed to support the program that has already commenced due to the variance between the language of the legislation and the contractual obligations of the City, for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the background of Ordinance 1230-2026 is hereby amended as follows with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough:
BACKGROUND:Mayor Ginther’s vision for Columbus, America’s Opportunity City, is that every Columbus child has access to a safe after-school environment to continue his/her education at the end of the school day.
According to the Harvard Family Research Project and its national database of evaluations, research confirms that “children and youth who participate in after-school programs can reap a host of positive benefits in a number of interrelated outcome areas-academic, social-emotional, prevention, and health and wellness. These are the skills that many suggest are necessary for youth to succeed in the 21st Century global economy and world.”
The Mayor’s Office of Education is working with United Way of Central Ohio, YMCA of Central Ohio, Columbus City Schools, and the Boys and Girls Club of Central Ohio to develop and implement an after school program for middle school youth for the 2026-2027 school year. Over 1,300 Columbus middle school students will be served at Columbus City Schools middle school buildings, Boys and Girls Club clubs, YMCA branches, and other community sites, beginning in September 2026. A similar program operated during the 2025-2026 school year.
The Office of Education requests the authority to partner with United Way of Central Ohio, Inc., and to allocate to them an advance, lump-sum payment of up to $2,000,000.00, so that they may to act as fiscal agent for the program, to assist in the planning and coordinating of services, and to distribute funds and program supports to after school providers.
This contract will be entered into in compliance with relevant procurement provisions of the Columbus City Codes Chapter 329.30. The Mayor’s Office of Education has neither the capacity nor the expertise to perform this role.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this contract ($2,000,000.00) is available within the 2026 Mayor’s Office of Education General Fund budget. ($2,000,000.00)
SECTION 2. That the title of Ordinance 1230-2026 is hereby amended as follows with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough:
To authorize the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Education to enter into a contract with United Way of Central Ohio, Inc. and to allocate to them an advance, sump-sum payment of up to $2,000,000.00, so that they may act for the purposes of acting as fiscal agent for the program, to assist in the planning and coordinating of services, and to distribute funds and program supports to after school providers; and to authorize the expenditure of $2,000,000.00 from the general fund. ($2,000,000.00)
SECTION 3. That the recitals of Ordinance 1230-2026 are hereby amended as follows with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough:
WHEREAS, Mayor Ginther's vision for Columbus, America’s Opportunity City, is that every Columbus child has access to a safe after-school environment to continue their education at the end of the school day; and
WHEREAS, research has proven that children who participate in after-school programs learn the skills that many suggest are necessary to succeed in the 21st Century global economy and world; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor’s Office of Education is working with United Way of Central Ohio, Columbus City Schools, Boys and Girls Club of Central Ohio, and the YMCA of Central Ohio on an after school program for middle school students, funded by the Office’s 2026 operating budget, and scheduled to commence in September 2026; and
WHEREAS, United Way of Central Ohio, Inc. will act as fiscal agent for the program and distribute funds and program supports to after school providers; and
WHEREAS, to serve as fiscal agent and to disperse funds to providers, it is necessary to provide United Way of Central Ohio, Inc., an advance, lumpsum payment; and
WHEREAS, this contract is being awarded to the United Way of Central Ohio, Inc. pursuant to Section 329.30, for which the City does not supply such services; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Office of Education to authorize the Director to enter into a contract with United Way of Central Ohio, Inc. and to authorize an advance, lump-sum payment to preserve the public health, peace, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
SECTION 4. That SECTION 1 of Ordinance 1230-2026 is hereby amended as follows with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Education is authorized to enter into a contract with United Way of Central Ohio, Inc., and to allocate to them an advance, sump-sum payment of up to $2,000,000.00, so that they may act for the purposes of acting as fiscal agent for the program, to assist in the planning and coordinating of services, and to distribute funds and program supports to after school providers.
SECTION 5. That the existing Background, Title, Recitals, and Section 1 of Ordinance 1230-2026 are hereby repealed.
SECTION 6. That this ordinance, for the reasons stated in the preamble, which are made a part of this ordinance and fully incorporated for reference as if rewritten, is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after this ordinance’s passage and approval by the Mayor or ten (10) days after its adoption if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.