Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Auditor’s Office to establish an Auditor’s Certificate for the Department of Public Utilities to pay the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) loan fees in a timely manner.
The Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) is a loan program jointly administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s (OEPA) Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). The WPCLF provides below-market interest rate loans for municipal wastewater treatment improvements. City Council approved the Department of Public Utilities to apply for WPCLF loans for the Division of Water Reclamation via Ordinance 3119-2025, passed by City Council on 12/15/25. OWDA charges a fee of approximately 0.0035% of each loan for administering the WPCLF loan program. Loan fees are not rolled into the loan amounts and are invoiced separately. These invoices are to be paid within 30 days of the invoice date.
The Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) loan program is jointly administered by the Ohio EPA Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). The WSRLA provides below-market interest rate loans for municipal water treatment improvements. City Council approved the Department of Public Utilities to apply for WSRLA loans for the Division of Water via Ordinance 1320-2026, passed by City Council on 6/1/2026. OWDA charges a fee of approximately 0.0035% of each loan for administering the WSRLA loan program.
Establishing an Auditor’s Certificate for the estimated loan fee needs ahead of time will allow these invoices to be paid within our contractual obligation and eliminates the possibility of delays in loan approval due to late payment of loan fees.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $400,000.00 are budgeted, appropriated, and available within the Sewer Operating Fund, Fund 6100, funds in the amount of $50,000.00 are budgeted, appropriated, and available within the Stormwater Operating Fund, Fund 6200 and funds in the amount of $50,000.00 are budgeted, appropriated, and available within the Water Operating Fund, Fund 6000.
3. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The Ohio Water Development Authority (vendor ID: 040572) is not contract compliant, and is not required to be contract compliant, as it is a governmental agency (State of Ohio).
Title
To authorize the Auditor’s Office to establish an Auditor’s Certificate for the Department of Public Utilities to pay Ohio Water Development Authority loan fees for loans obtained through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund and the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account; to authorize the expenditure of up to $400,000.00 from the Sewer Operating Fund, $50,000.00 from the Stormwater Operating Fund and $50,000.00 from the Water Operating Fund to pay these loan fees. ($500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) is a loan program jointly administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s (OEPA) Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) to provide below-market interest rate loans for municipal wastewater treatment improvements; and
WHEREAS, City Council approved the Department of Public Utilities to apply for WPCLF loans for the Division of Water Reclamation via Ordinance 3119-2025, passed by City Council on 12/15/2025; and
WHEREAS, the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) loan program is jointly administered by the Ohio EPA Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA); and
WHEREAS, the WSRLA provides below-market interest rate loans for municipal water treatment improvements. City Council approved the Department of Public Utilities to apply for WSRLA loans for the Division of Water via Ordinance 1320-2026, passed by City Council on 6/1/2026; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the Director of Public Utilities to pay the requisite loan fees to the Ohio Water Development Authority within 30 days of the invoice date to ensure there are no delays in loan approvals; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary in the daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to authorize the Auditor’s Office to establish an Auditor’s Certificate for the Department of Public Utilities to pay the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) loan fees; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
SECTION 1. That the Auditor’s Office is authorized to establish an Auditor’s Certificate for the Department of Public Utilities to pay Ohio Water Development Authority loan fees for loans obtained through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $400,000.00, or as much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from Fund 6100 (Sewer Operating Fund), $50,000.000 from Fund 6200 (Stormwater Operating Fund) and $50,000 from Fund 6000 (Water Operating Fund), in object class 07 (Interest on City Debt) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is authorized to establish proper project accounting numbers as appropriate.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.