Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Jewish Family Service, a non-profit corporation, in an amount up to $500,000.00 for the Columbus Financial Empowerment Center, and to authorize the payment of expenses starting January 1, 2026.
In 2021, the City of Columbus and Columbus Women’s Commission launched the Financial Empowerment Center, a program that has effectively served over 1300 Columbus residents, most of whom are women, on their journey to financial stability. Financial instability is indiscriminate in the individuals it affects; however, women are more likely to experience financial instability and feel it’s effects more deeply.
Financial stability is crucial to the ability to afford safe, quality housing, daily necessities, and prepare for unforeseen expenses. All of this is required for women and families to not just survive, but thrive.
The Financial Empowerment Center offers free on-on-one financial counseling as a public service for all Central Ohio residents. Financial counselors are trained and certified by the Cities for Financial Empower Fund to support clients as they navigate complex financial challenges and reach financial goals. The services provided by the FEC ensure women in Columbus, and all Columbus residents, have the ability to achieve financial stability.
Jewish Family Service serves as the Financial Counseling Provider to provide free, professional, one-on-one financial counseling services to Columbus residents as a municipal service. The funding provided will be used to retain four (4) financial counselors and one (1) program manager employed by Jewish Family Service for the provision of financial counseling services. The funding will also support marketing services and supplies to raise public awareness of the availability of these free financial counseling services.
Emergency Action is necessary to ensure funding is available to continue the support of the FEC, allowing for the continuous provision of services to Columbus residents through crucial financial counseling services. Jewish Family Services (a not-for-profit agency) currently administers the FEC on behalf of the City and will be administering this portion of the program as financial counseling services cannot be provided by existing city employees.
Fiscal Impact: Funds are available within the Department of Development’s 2026 General Fund budget.
Contract Compliance: CC-006079 expires 8/11/2027
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Jewish Family Service for the Columbus Financial Empowerment Center in an amount up to $500,000.00; to authorize the expenditure in an amount up to $500,000.00; to authorize payment of expenses starting January 1, 2026; and to declare an emergency. ($500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in 2021, the City of Columbus and Columbus Women’s Commission launched the Financial Empowerment Center, a program that has effectively served over 1300 Columbus residents, most of whom are women, on their journey to financial stability; and
WHEREAS, financial stability is crucial to the ability to afford safe, quality housing, daily necessities, and prepare for unforeseen expenses; and
WHEREAS, the services provided by the FEC ensure women in Columbus, and all Columbus residents, have the ability to achieve financial stability; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance seeks authorization of an expenditure in an amount up to $500,000.00 from the Department of Development 2026 General Fund budget to retain four (4) financial counselors and one (1) program manager employed by Jewish Family Services for the provision of financial counseling services, to support marketing services, and acquire supplies to raise public awareness of the availability of these free financial counseling services; and
WHEREAS, to authorize payments of expenses starting January 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Jewish Family Service of Columbus to continue the operation of the Financial Empowerment Center, including financial counseling services to Columbus residents;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual and daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a not-for-profit services contract with Jewish Family Services that administers the Financial Empowerment Center on behalf of the City in order to have funding available to continue the support of the FEC, 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 Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Jewish Family Service for the Columbus Financial Empowerment Center in an amount up to $500,000.00, and is authorized to make payment for expenses starting January 1, 2026, for the Columbus Financial Empowerment Center.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $500,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That this contract is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 4. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance 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 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.