Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the transfer of funds within the general fund from the Department of Finance and Management to the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges and authorizes the Franklin County Municipal Court Administrative and Presiding Judge to enter into agreement with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, a government agency, to cover costs incurred beginning January 1, 2026 - prior to the issuance of a purchase order, and authorizes the expenditure of up to $199,087.07 from the general fund for the transport of persons taken into custody at the Courthouse.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners and the Franklin County Sheriff entered contracts, and subsequent amendments to those contracts, with the various political subdivisions located within Franklin County, Ohio, including the City of Columbus, for the Housing of Prisoners (“Prisoner Housing Contract”), pursuant to which the political subdivisions pay to the County a per diem charge for each prisoner incarcerated in the Franklin County Corrections Center under a municipal ordinance of the respective municipality. Paragraph 5 of the Prisoner Housing Contract states that the per diem charge paid by the Court includes the cost of conveying prisoners held at the Franklin County Corrections Center to the Franklin County Municipal Court, but does not include the cost of transporting persons taken into custody at the courthouse.
Within this agreement, the Court will contribute to the cost of transporting persons taken into custody, other than the transportation included under paragraph 5 of the Prisoner Housing Contract.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the transfer of $199,087.00 between Departments within the General Fund.
EMERGENCY: Emergency passage is necessary as the current contract has already expired and the services are required immediately to ensure the proper operations of the Municipal Court.
Title
To authorize the transfer of funds within the general fund from the Department of Finance and Management to the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges, authorize the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court to enter into agreement with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, a government agency, and authorize the expenditure of up to $199,087.07 from the general fund for transport of persons taken into custody at the courthouse; and to declare an emergency. ($199,087.07)
Body
WHEREAS, the Court has determined that it is in its best interest to continue its agreement with Franklin County; and
WHEREAS, a transfer of funds is necessary to provide the funds to the Court for payment to Franklin County; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the city, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the transfer of funds within the general fund, to authorize the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court to enter into agreement, and to authorize the expenditure with Franklin County, for the preservation of the public health, safety, and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court be and is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners for the transportation of persons taken into custody at the courthouse for the period of January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026 and is authorized to cover costs incurred beginning January 1, 2026 - prior to the issuance of a purchase order.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $199,087.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within the general fund (Fund 1000) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 2262-2026 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $199,087.07 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in General Fund 1000, Subfund 100010, Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon order of the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby 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.