Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Office of the Department of Education to enter into contract with The Columbus Foundation, a non-profit corporation, to serve as charitable gift recipient for The Columbus Promise Program.
In support of the Columbus Promise program, the City of Columbus, in partnership with local corporations, charitable institutions, and higher education institutions, provides the funding necessary to support and sustain the Columbus Promise program. In addition to a variety of thoughtful partners and support systems, Promise students receive up to $1,000.00 in a yearly stipend to cover the cost of books and other incidentals.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Emergency Designation: The Columbus Foundation expects to pay the invoice for the recently-concluded 2025 spring semester as soon as possible, and these funds are the last step to allowing the Foundation to fulfill that invoice. Emergency action is requested to avoid any further delay in the payment of the spring invoice.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Office of Education to enter into a contract with The Columbus Foundation to serve as charitable gift recipient for The Columbus Promise Program; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($200,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Promise is a transformational college access, success, and workforce program with its third cohort of Columbus City Schools (CCS) students enrolled at Columbus State Community College; and
WHEREAS, we know that achieving a higher education degree or credential is the key to so many determinants of long-term success, such as higher wages, financial stability, and improved personal health; and
WHEREAS, The Columbus Promise Program will provide all graduates of Columbus City Schools with the opportunity to earn a two-year degree from Columbus State Community College, and to do so debt-free; and
WHEREAS, The Columbus Foundation has managed and will continue to manage charitable funds that support students during their academic journey; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the Office of Education in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into this contract with The Columbus Foundation to serve as a charitable gift recipient for the Columbus Promise program students that allow students to receive up to $1,000.00 in a yearly stipend to cover the cost of books and other incidentals, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Office of Education is hereby authorized to enter into contract with The Columbus Foundation to serve as charitable gift recipient for The Columbus Promise Program.
SECTION 2. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $200,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That per the action authorized by Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $200,000.00 is hereby authorized within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund 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 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.