Explanation
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the City Auditor to transfer funds within the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund and between the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund and the Electricity Operating Fund to allow for payment to the Division of Power for electric usage that was previously underbilled. In the year 2010, an electric meter was changed out at the Division of Sewerage and Drainage, Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant. This meter was not properly calibrated, resulting in inaccurate readings of the actual usage which resulted in the underbilling of the account. Due to the fact that the Division only calculates adjustments of billing charges and back bills for two years, the Division of Power has calculated the unbilled charges to total $1,744,822.64. This legislation also authorizes the appropriation of $1,744,822.64 within the Electricity Operating Fund for funding of a future capital project.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is sufficient budget authority available in the 2017 Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund’s Budget to fund the transfers and appropriation, which total $1,744,822.64.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: This ordinance is being submitted as an emergency in order to align budget authority with projected expenditures to provide for the timely payment of these charges to the Division of Power.
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to transfer $1,744,822.64 between Object Classes within the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund Budget; to authorize the transfer of $1,744,822.64 from the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund to the Electricity Operating Fund for the payment of unbilled electric charges for the Division of Sewerage and Drainage; to appropriate $1,744,822.64 within the Electricity Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,744,822.64).
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Sewerage and Drainage has a need to transfer $1,744,822.64 between Object Classes within the 2017 Sewerage System Operating Fund’s Budget. Funds for the transfer have been identified and are available in Object Classes 04 (Principal) and 07 (Interest); and
WHEREAS, the Division of Sewerage and Drainage has a further need to transfer those funds to the Electricity Operating Fund for the payment of unbilled charges resulting from an improperly calibrated meter at the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant; and
WHEREAS, the Division of Power has a need to appropriate the $1,744,822.64 within Object Class 06 (Capital) for funding of a future project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities, Divisions of Sewerage and Drainage and Power, in that it is immediately necessary to transfer appropriation between Object Classes within the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund and between the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund and the Electricity Operating Fund, to allow for the timely payment of electric charges to the Division of Power; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the transfer of $1,744,822.64 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between Object Classes within Fund 6100 Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $1,744,822.64 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between Fund 6100 Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund and Fund 6300 Electricity Operating Fund per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That $1,744,822.64 is hereby appropriated in Fund 6300 Electricity Operating Fund per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 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.