Explanation
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the City Auditor to transfer funds within the General Fund for the Civil Service Commission, in order to align funds where needed.
This ordinance authorizes the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission to enter into a grant agreement with Aspyr, formerly known as Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio - (WDBCO), a not-for-profit organization, for the purposes of funding a portion of the 2026-2027 EDGE Program. The balance of the funds necessary to fund this program will be allocated within the Civil Service Commission 2026 General Fund Operating Budget. This $150,000.00 grant is allocated to support the City’s partnership with Aspyr for the implementation of the 2026-2027 EDGE Program. The program will identify individuals, through Aspyr and their partnering agencies, to receive a myriad of programs and services including work experience opportunities, health assessment, and life and occupational skills training, etc., designed to assist participants with successfully transitioning back into the community and workforce. This partnership is necessary because the City does not offer many of the specialized services critical to the success of this program. The term of this grant agreement will be for a period of one (1) year from the date of execution by the City of Columbus through submission of an Agreement closeout report by the Grantee.
Aspyr (formerly known as Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio), Vendor #018152, (not-for-profit), Expires: 4/15/2026
The company is not debarred according to the Excluded Party Listing System of the Federal Government or prohibited from being awarded a contract according to the Auditor of State Unresolved Findings for Recovery Certified Search.
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: The Civil Service Commission respectfully requests this legislation be considered for emergency action in order to align appropriation authority where needed.
FISCAL IMPACT: The total expenditure amount, of $150,000.00 is funded within the Commission’s 2025 budget. The balance of the funds necessary to fund this program will be allocated within the 2026 General Fund Operating Budget. This ordinance authorizes the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission to enter into a grant agreement with Aspyr for the implementation of a portion of the 2026-2027 EDGE Program, and to expend $150,000.00 which is budgeted and available within the Civil Service Commission’s General Fund Operating Budget.
Within this ordinance it is also necessary to transfer $150,000.00 from Object Class 05 (Other Expenditures) to Object Class 03 (Services) and to transfer $20,000.00 from Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Object Class 02 (Supplies) to make funds available where needed.
$300,000.00 has been spent to date in 2025
$300,000.00 was spent in 2024
$300,000.00 was spent in 2023
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to transfer $170,000.00 in appropriation authority between Object Classes within the Civil Service Commission General Fund Budget, to authorize the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission to enter in a grant agreement with Aspyr for the purpose of administering the 2026-2027 EDGE Program; to authorize the expenditure of $150,000.00 from the General Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Civil Service Commission has a need to transfer $170,000.00 in appropriation authority between Object Classes within the 2025 Civil Service Commission General Fund’s budget. Appropriation authority for the transfer have been identified and are available in Object Class 05 (Other Expenditures) in the amount of $150,000.00 and in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) in the amount of $20,000.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission to enter into a grant agreement with Aspyr (formerly known as Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio - WDBCO) for the implementation of the 2026-2027 EDGE Program; and
WHEREAS, the program will identify individuals, through Aspyr and their partnering agencies, to receive a myriad of programs and services including work experience opportunities, health assessment, and life and occupational skills training, etc., designed to assist participants with successfully transitioning back into the community and workforce; and
WHEREAS, this partnership is necessary because the City does not offer many of the specialized services critical to the success of this program; and
WHEREAS, the term of this grant agreement will be for a period of one (1) year from the date of execution by the City of Columbus through submission of an Agreement closeout report by the Grantee; and
WHEREAS, the expenditure of $150,000.00, or so much thereof, as is needed will be utilized for the implementation of the 2026-2027 EDGE Program grant with Aspyr; 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 transfer appropriation authority between Object Classes within the Civil Service Commission General Fund Budget; and to authorize the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission to enter into a grant agreement with Aspyr for the implementation of the 2026-2027 EDGE Program to provide for continued, uninterrupted services; 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 transfer of $170,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between Object Classes within Fund 1000, General Fund, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission be and is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Aspyr, 1650 Lake Shore Drive, Suite 110, Columbus, Ohio 43204, for an amount up to $150,000.00, for the administration of the 2026-2027 EDGE Program.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $150,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000, General Fund, in object class 05 (Other Expenses), per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the monies in the foregoing Section 3 shall be paid upon order of the Executive Director of the Civil Service Commission and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 5. 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 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts and contract modifications associated with this legislation.
SECTION 7. 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 (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.