Explanation
BACKGROUND:
The Franklin County Municipal Court requests authorization to establish a Special Revenue subfund entitled “Court Modernization Fund”, to accept funds from court costs and provide funding for court projects supporting the Municipal Court’s transition to the new courthouse.
The Court is required by Ohio law to publish new court case filings in a printed law journal. Funds for advertising have been collected through court fees as detailed in the Court’s Local Rules. The court received notification on November 6, 2025, that the law journal of record will cease operations on December 12, 2025. The Municipal Court will deposit the fees into the Court Modernization Fund until a new procedure is determined.
The court may use these collected fees to support costs related to court functions and facilitate the transfer to the new courthouse. These costs include, but are not limited to, professional review of court processes and operating procedures, staff education, transition towards a paperless environment, and technology planning and investment to ensure construction incorporates appropriate technological efficiencies.
FISCAL IMPACT: Court costs from the Court Modernization fee will be deposited into this Special Revenue subfund to be used for improving court functions in preparation for the new courthouse.
Emergency legislation is requested to establish the fund in sufficient time to begin accepting deposits when the law journal ceases operations.
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to create a Special Revenue subfund titled “Court Modernization Fund” for the purpose of depositing proceeds received from court costs; to authorize the use of such funds for court projects supporting the Municipal Court’s transfer to the new courthouse; to appropriate an amount up to, but not to exceed, the unencumbered cash balance in the subfund; to authorize the expenditure of said funds for such purposes; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Franklin County Municipal Court seeks to establish a Special Revenue Fund titled “Court Modernization Fund” which is authorized to accept funds from court costs collected by the Franklin County Municipal Clerk; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this Special Revenue Fund is to provide a means to support funding for a range of court projects that will be instrumental in supporting the Municipal Court’s transfer into the new courthouse; and
WHEREAS, all City procurement procedures will be followed for purchases related to this special purpose fund; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Franklin County Municipal Court to authorize the establishment of a Court Modernization Special Revenue Fund for the purpose of supporting projects designated by the Court to facilitate functionality in the new courthouse, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Franklin County Municipal Court in that it is immediately necessary to provide for this appropriation so that funds can be established at the start of the 2026 budget year.
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 subfund within Municipal Court Computer, Fund No. 2227, titled Court Modernization Fund, in order to properly track and account for the fiscal activities.
SECTION 2. That all revenues received from the Court Modernization fee shall be deposited into said subfund for the purpose of projects and activities related to the ongoing activities of the Municipal Court Judges and improving the processes thereof.
SECTION 3. That all purchases related to this Special Revenue subfund will be made in accordance with all City procurement procedures.
SECTION 4. That the monies in the Special Revenue subfund created in Section 1 of this ordinance are authorized to be appropriated in an amount up to, but not to exceed, the cash in the fund not encumbered for any other purpose, and that no money shall be paid therefrom except by voucher approved by the City Auditor.
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 form and after passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.