Explanation
Background: In 2023, the Columbus City Attorney and Columbus Division of Police secured a competitive 3-year United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women grant to guide effective, local implementation Ohio Senate Bill 288 making strangulation a felony offense and to provide direct advocacy services for felony victims (ord. # 2765-2023, grant # G242305).
Grant funds were appropriated to both departments to support grant staff, supplies and training. The Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, requests authority to transfer $77,344 in unexpended personnel funds within the grant project account to the City Attorney’s Office. These personnel funds will be used by the City Attorney to make the part-time victim advocate funded by this Office on Violence Against Women award into a full-time position for 2025.
This legislation authorizes the City Auditor to transfer $77,344.00 in grant appropriation from the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, to the City Attorney's Office for their shared United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women grant. It also approves ongoing authority for both departments to request the City Auditor to transfer project appropriations between departments and divisions to achieve grant goals within the award time frame.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact.
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to transfer $77,344.00 in grant appropriation from the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, to the City Attorney's Office for their shared United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women grant; and to approve ongoing authority for both departments to request the City Auditor to transfer project appropriations between departments and divisions to achieve grant goals within the award time frame ($77,344.00).
Body
WHEREAS, in 2023, the City Attorney's Office and the Division of Police secured a competitive 3-year United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women grant to guide effective, local implementation of Ohio Senate Bill 288, making strangulation a felony offense and to provide direct advocacy services for felony victims; and
WHEREAS, grant project funds were appropriated to the Division of Police and the City Attorney’s Office to support grant staff, supplies and training; and
WHEREAS, the Division of Police seeks authority to transfer $77,344.00 in unexpended personnel funds within the grant project account (G242305) to the City Attorney’s Office to make the part-time victim advocate funded by this Office on Violence Against Women award into a full-time position for 2025; and
WHEREAS, the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, and the Columbus City Attorney seek ongoing authority to work with the City Auditor to transfer project appropriations between departments and divisions to achieve grant goals within the award time frame; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor will transfer $77,344.00 in grant appropriation from the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, to the City Attorney’s Office, according to the fiscal dimensions provided in the ordinance attachment.
SECTION 2. That the fund transfer is hereby authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That the Columbus Division of Police and the Columbus City Attorney are given ongoing authority to work with the City Auditor to transfer project appropriations between departments and divisions to achieve grant goals within the award time frame.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.