Explanation
The City of Columbus, Department of Public Utilities offers a Low-Income Water and Sewer Discount Program to qualifying customers. A 20% discount is available on water and sewer consumption charges for qualifying low-income customers. A similar program is in development for low-income Power customers. In 2023 and 2024, the department offered a one-time $60 and $65 bill credit, respectively, for approved Water low-income customers to offset the annual rate increases for those years. These credits were made possible due to the City's receipt of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which were appropriated to the City's Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. Enough ARPA balance remains that the City intends to issue one-time bill credits for approved Water low-income customers in 2025 and 2026. The City would also like to offer one-time bill credits to Division of Power low-income customers contingent on future rates increases and low-income discount program development.
The purpose of this legislation is to encumber funds from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to be transferred to fund bill credits in 2025 and 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is sufficient budget authority available in the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund’s Budget to fund the encumbrance, which totals $707,711.00.
$298,875.00 has been transferred in 2024
$321,666.00 was transferred in 2023
$0.00 was transferred in 2022
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to transfer $707,711.00 between Object Classes within the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund; and to authorize the expenditure of $707,711.00 from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund for one-time bill credits to be issued as part of the Low-Income Water and Sewer Discount Program for 2025 and 2026 and a future Low Income Power Discount Program. ($707,711.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Department of Public Utilities offers a Low-Income Water and Sewer Discount Program to qualifying customers; and
WHEREAS, a similar program is in development for low-income Power customers; and
WHEREAS, the Department offered a one-time $60 bill credit in 2023 and a one-time $65 bill credit in 2024 for approved low-income Water customers; and
WHEREAS, due to remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the Department wishes to encumber funds to support one-time low-income bill credits in 2025 and 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities has a need to transfer $707,711.00 between Object Classes within the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (Fund 2209), and funds for the transfer have been identified and are available in Object Class 03 (Purchased Services); and
WHEREAS, the expenditure of $707,711.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2209, Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, from object class 05, Other Expenditures, per the accounting codes attached to the ordinance; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to authorize to authorize the City Auditor to process these transfers and to authorize the expenditure from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the transfer of $707,711.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 2209 (Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund), from Dept-Div 6001 (Public Utilities Director's Office), object class 03 (Purchased Services) to Dept-Div 6001 (Public Utilities Director's Office), object class 05 (Other Expenditures) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $707,711.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2209, Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, from object class 05, Other Expenditures, per the accounting codes attached to the ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.