Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the City Auditor to create a new fund and subfund for the Water Division to account for donations received to support utility discount programs managed by the Department of Public Utilities.
The newly established “Columbus Cares Utility Assistance Subfund” within the newly established Water Special Revenue Fund is designed to accept donations in support of existing and future utility discount programs. Current initiatives include income-based and senior discounts, offering eligible customers reduced water and sewer usage charges, one-time bill credits and waivers of service fees. The establishment of the new fund and sub fund is necessary to ensure proper accounting and transparency in the receipt of donations and the disbursement of assistance to individuals experiencing financial hardship. All donations will be used exclusively to assist eligible residential customers.
Once the fund and subfund are established, individuals and businesses will have the opportunity to support the fund through round-up donations, recurring contributions and/or one-time donations. The fund will be administered by the Department of Public Utilities and additional information, including how to donate will be available once the program is fully formed.
FISCAL IMPACT: Donation proceeds will be deposited into this new special revenue fund subfund to support utility discount programs. Utilizing a special revenue fund provides the best means for properly tracking and accounting for these donations.
EMERGENCY ACTION: Emergency designation is requested so that the fund and subfund can be created as quickly as possible to allow the Department of Public Utilities to begin accepting donations without delay.
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to create a special revenue fund titled Water Special Revenue Fund and sub fund titled Columbus Cares Utility Assistance Subfund for the purpose of accepting donations to support existing and future utility discount programs; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the City Auditor to create a new Water special revenue fund and sub fund to account for donations received to support utility discount programs managed by the Department of Public Utilities; and
WHEREAS, the newly established “Columbus Cares Utility Assistance Subfund” is designed to accept donations in support of existing and future utility discount programs; and
WHEREAS, in order to properly account for these donations, it is necessary for the City Auditor to create a new Special Revenue fund and sub fund; and
WHEREAS, the new fund and subfund will ensure proper accounting and transparency in the receipt of donations and the disbursement of assistance to individuals experiencing financial hardship; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Auditor to establish a new fund and subfund as quickly as possible to allow donations to be accepted, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to establish a Water Special Revenue fund and Columbus Cares Utility Assistance Subfund in order to properly track and account for the fiscal activities of the donation program.
SECTION 2. That all revenues arising from the donation program shall be deposited into the Columbus Cares Utility Assistance sub fund within the Water Special Revenue fund and used to support existing and future utility discount programs.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is authorized to appropriate up to the total amount of unappropriated cash in the Columbus Cares Utility Assistance subfund to Department of Public Utilities (60), Division of Water (6009), Transfers Out OC (10) and to transfer funds upon request of the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to allow the donations to be used to support existing and future utility discount programs.
SECTION 4. 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 (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.