Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health has been awarded a grant from the Ohio Department of Health. This ordinance is needed to authorize the acceptance of the award and to appropriate $7,409,412.00 and any additional funds to fund the 2026-2027 Women, Infants and Children (WIC) grant program, for the period of October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. The primary objective of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program is to provide nutritionally desirable food and nutrition education to pregnant and lactating women, infants, and children at nutritional risk in Franklin County who meet categorical, income and nutritional risk requirements for eligibility.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Women, Infants and Children Program is entirely funded by the Ohio Department of Health. This program does not generate any revenue or require a City match to be held in account. ($7,409,412.00)
Title
To authorize the Board of Health to accept a grant from the Ohio Department of Health for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program in the amount of $7,409,412.00 and any additional funds; to authorize the appropriation of $7,409,412.00 from the unappropriated balance of the Health Department Grants Fund; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes. ($7,409,412.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $7,409,412.00 in grant funds have been made available through the Ohio Department of Health for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program for the period of October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Board of Health to accept this award and to appropriate these funds and any additional funds from the Ohio Department of Health for the continued support of the WIC program; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to allow the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes for the WIC grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department.; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Board of Health to authorize Columbus Public Health to accept and appropriate $7,409,412.00 in grant monies to fund 2026-2027 Women, Infants and Children (WIC) grant program; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized to accept a grant award totaling $7,409,412.00 and any additional funds from the Ohio Department of Health for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program for the period of October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Health Department's Grants Fund, Fund No. 2251, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, the sum of $7,409,412.00 and any eligible interest earned during the grant period is hereby appropriated to the Health Department, Division No. 5001, upon receipt of an executed grant agreement approved by the City Attorney’s Office.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Health Commissioner and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 5. 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 hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the WIC grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department.
SECTION 7. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.