Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the City Auditor to establish an Auditor’s Certificate on behalf of the Civil Service Commission for the purpose of administering the uniformed examinations for the Department of Public Safety and other purchases as needed. The Civil Service Commission has several upcoming uniformed safety forces examinations in January through April 2027 for which various equipment, supplies and services will need to be secured beforehand, to administer the exams. This ordinance is necessary to authorize the expenditure of funds to provide the various equipment, supplies and services associated with these exams so that the Commission can meet its Charter mandates and contractual obligations in maintaining current eligible lists for the safety forces uniformed classifications.
FISCAL IMPACT: The total expenditure of $398,240.00 is funded within the Commission’s 2026 budget.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: The Civil Service Commission respectfully requests this legislation be considered for emergency action to allow for the purchase of the necessary equipment, supplies and services that will need to be secured beforehand, to administer the exams in January through April 2027 so the Commission can meet its Charter mandates and contractual obligations in maintaining current eligible lists for safety forces uniformed classifications.
Title
To establish an Auditor’s Certificate on behalf of the Civil Service Commission for the purpose of administering the uniformed examinations for the Department of Public Safety; to authorize the expenditure of $398,240.00 from the General Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($398,240.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Civil Service Commission will be developing and/or administering upcoming safety forces uniformed exams, including but not limited to Firefighter exam, Police Officer exam, Firefighter Mile exam, Fire Lieutenant Oral Board Scoring, Fire Captain Oral Board Administration/Scoring & Tactical Scoring and Police Sergeant Oral Board Scoring; and
WHEREAS, the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission will be contracting with individuals from around the country to perform certain phases of these examinations; and
WHEREAS, the Civil Service Commission will provide housing, transportation, meals and meeting refreshments for these individuals; and
WHEREAS, the Civil Service Commission will incur other necessary expenses including but not limited to equipment and supplies, room and equipment rental(s), printing, consulting services, and pre-employment psychological screenings of public safety recruits, and other services as necessary; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Civil Service Commission, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Auditor to establish an Auditor’s Certificate, on behalf of the Civil Service Commission, for the purpose of administering and paying for the uniformed examinations for the Department of Public Safety, and to allow for the purchase of the necessary equipment, supplies and services that will need to be secured beforehand, in order to administer the exams in January through April 2027 so the Commission can meet its Charter mandates and contractual obligations in maintaining current eligible lists for safety forces uniformed classifications, all for the immediate preservation of 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 be and is hereby authorized to establish an Auditor’s Certificate on behalf of the Civil Service Commission for the purpose of administering safety forces uniformed exams in January through April 2027 so the Commission can meet its Charter mandates and contractual obligations in maintaining current eligible lists for safety forces uniformed classifications.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $398,240.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 General Fund, to be expended to pay for the purchase of equipment and supplies, printing, housing, transportation, meals, meeting refreshments, facility and equipment rental(s), consulting services, and pre-employment psychological screenings of public safety recruits, and any other costs incurred for upcoming safety forces uniformed exams, and other services as necessary, in Object Classes 02 and 03 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes necessary to ensure that these expenditures are properly accounted for and recorded accurately on the City’s financial records.
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 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 6. 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.