Explanation
This ordinance makes appropriations and authorizes transfers for the 12 months ending December 31, 2025, in various divisions and departments for selected funds other than the General Fund or Operating Funds.
Emergency action is requested to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the City's accounting system as soon as possible. Up to date financial posting promotes accurate accounting and financial management. As well, these ordinances will be the subject of public hearings and are not likely to be passed by City Council until 2025. If an additional 30 days is added to the process valuable services and programs may be affected.
Title
To make appropriations for the 12 months ending December 31, 2025, for selected other funds for various divisions, to authorize the City Auditor to make transfers as may be necessary, and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the matter herein provided for constitutes an emergency in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate funds for the various city departments for the 12 months beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2025, and
WHEREAS, emergency action is requested to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the City’s accounting system as soon as possible, and
WHEREAS, up to date finance posting promotes accurate accounting and financial management, and
WHEREAS, these ordinances will be the subject of public hearings and are not likely to be passed by City Council until 2025 and if an additional 30 days is added to the process valuable services and programs may be affected, and
WHEREAS, the matter herein constitutes an emergency in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate these funds to allow for accurate financial transactions in the current fiscal year and 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, OHIO:
SECTION 1. That from the monies in the fund known as the Hotel-Motel Tax Fund, Fund No. 2231, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources during the 12 months ending December 31, 2025, there be and hereby are appropriated for the Object Classes for which the corporation has to provide the following sums for use during the 12 months ending December 31, 2025:
Division No. 4401 Development Administration, subfund 223125 (Emergency Human Services)
Obj Class 03
Amount $3,492,000
TOTAL $3,492,000
Division No. 4401 Development Administration, subfund 223135 (Columbus Housing)
Obj Class 03
Amount $2,502,000
TOTAL $2,502,000
Division No. 4550 Office of the Finance Director, subfund 223105 (Promoting the City)
Obj Class 03
Amount $13,904,000
TOTAL $13,904,000
Division No. 4550 Office of the Finance Director, subfund 223115 (GCAC)
Obj Class 03
Amount $9,481,000
TOTAL $9,481,000
Division No. 2001 City Council, subfund 223110 (Cultural Services)
Obj Class 10
Amount $293,000
TOTAL $293,000
Division No. 4501 Finance and Management, subfund 223120 (FCCFA Hilton)
Obj Class 03
Amount $2,328,000
TOTAL $2,328,000
TOTAL Fund No. 2231, $32,000,000
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the fund known as the Sewer System Revenue Bond Reserve Fund, Fund No. 6104, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, there be and hereby are appropriated the following sums for use during the 12 months ending December 31, 2025:
Division No. 6005 Sanitary Sewer, subfund 610402
Obj Class 07
Purpose - Revenue Bond Interest Payment
Amount $9,980,800
TOTAL $9,980,800
Division No. 6005 Sanitary Sewer, subfund 610402
Obj Class 04
Purpose - Bond Principal Payment
Amount $4,000,000
TOTAL $4,000,000
Division No. 6005 Sanitary Sewer, subfund 610402
Obj Class 07
Purpose - Bond Interest Payment
Amount $400,000
TOTAL $400,000
TOTAL Fund No. 6104, $14,380,800
SECTION 3. That from the unappropriated monies in the fund known as the Debt Retirement Fund, Fund No. 4430, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, there be and hereby are appropriated the following sums for use during the 12 months ending December 31, 2025, for the payment of principal and interest on outstanding notes and bonds, bond and note issuance costs, and bond counsel costs:
Division No. 2201, City Auditor, subfund 443001
Obj Class 04
Purpose - OPWC Principal Payment
Amount $704,000
Obj Class 04
Purpose - SIB Loan Principal Payment
Amount $385,000
Obj Class 07
Purpose - SIB Loan Interest Payment
Amount $198,727
Obj Class 04
Purpose - Bond Principal Payment
Amount $209,055,000
Obj Class 07
Purpose - Bond Interest Payment
Amount $99,238,905
TOTAL $309,580,632
Division No. 2401, City Attorney, subfund 443001
Obj Class 03
Purpose - Bond Counsel Expense
Amount $250,000
TOTAL $250,000
Division No. 4501, Finance and Management, subfund 443001
Obj Class 03
Purpose - Professional Services
Amount $200,000
TOTAL $200,000
TOTAL Fund No. 4430, $310,030,632
SECTION 4. That from the unappropriated monies in the fund known as the Easton TIF Debt Service Fund, Fund No. 4401, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, there be and hereby are appropriated the following sums for use during the 12 months ending December 31, 2025:
Division No. 4401, Development, subfund 440101
Obj Class 04
Purpose - Bond Principal Payment
Amount $2,550,000
Obj Class 07
Purpose - Bond Interest Payment
Amount $70,967
TOTAL Fund No. 4401, $2,620,967
SECTION 5. That from the unappropriated monies in the fund known as the Polaris TIF Debt Service Fund, Fund No. 4402, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, there be and hereby are appropriated the following sums for use during the 12 months ending December 31, 2025:
Division No. 4401, Development, subfund 440206
Obj Class 04
Purpose - Bond Principal Payment
Amount $1,900,000
Obj Class 07
Purpose - Bond Interest Payment
Amount $105,100
TOTAL Fund No. 4402, $2,005,100
SECTION 6. That from the unappropriated monies in the fund known as the Hayden Run Rd. TIF Debt Service Fund, Fund No. 4450, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, there be and hereby are appropriated the following sums for use during the 12 months ending December 31, 2025:
Division No. 4401, Development, subfund 445001
Obj Class 04
Purpose - Bond Principal Payment
Amount $390,000
Obj Class 07
Purpose - Bond Interest Payment
Amount $16,950
TOTAL Fund No. 4450, $406,950
SECTION 7. That from the monies in the fund known as the Northeast Preserve TIF Fund, Fund No. 7438, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, there be and hereby are appropriated the following sums for use during the 12 months ending December 31, 2025:
Division No. 4401 Development, subfund 000000
Obj Class 10
Purpose - Debt Transfer
Amount $583,727
TOTAL Fund No. 7438, $583,727
SECTION 8. That from the monies in the fund known as the Third and Olentangy TIF Fund No. 7459, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, there be and hereby are appropriated the following sums for use during the 12 months ending December 31, 2025:
Division No. 4401 Development, subfund 000000
Obj Class 10
Purpose - Debt Transfer
Amount $31,856
TOTAL Fund No. 7459, $31,856
SECTION 9. That from the unappropriated monies in the fund known as the Mobility Debt Retirement Fund No. 6520 and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, there be and hereby are appropriated the following sums for use during the 12 months ending December 31, 2025:
Division No. 5906, Parking Services, subfund 652001
Obj Class 04
Purpose - Note Principal Payment
Amount $16,150,000
Obj Class 07
Purpose - Note Interest Payment
Amount $678,300
TOTAL Fund No. 6520, $16,828,300
SECTION 10. That from the unappropriated monies in the fund known as the Debt Retirement Fund No. 4430, Subfund No, 443008, and from all monies estimated to come into said Subfund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, there be and hereby are transferred to Debt Retirement Fund No. 4430, Subfund No. 443001.
SECTION 11. That the monies in the foregoing Sections 1 through 5 shall be paid upon the order of the respective departments for which the appropriations are made except that small claims may be paid as authorized by Chapter 335 of the Columbus City Code, 1985, as amended; and except that payments or transfers between departments, divisions or funds of the City may be made by the City Auditor; that payments for premiums for official bonds, depository commissions, employees' hospitalization, life insurance, pensions, dental insurance, and prepaid legal services, shall be made on the order and approval of the Director of the Department of Finance and Management or City Auditor; that the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 1 shall be paid upon the order of the Director of the Department of Development or the Director of the Department of Finance and Management or the City Council President; that the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Director of the Department of Public Utilities; that the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 3 shall be paid by upon the order of the City Auditor or the City Attorney or the Director of the Department of Finance and Management; that the monies appropriated in the foregoing Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 shall be paid by upon the order of the Director of the Department of Development; that the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 9 shall be paid by upon the order of the Director of the Department of Public Service, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 12. Except in the matter of payrolls providing for the payment of salaries of officers and employees regularly employed by the City and extraordinary emergencies, no warrant shall be issued in liquidation of vouchers, unless the department contracting the expense shall have first obtained an order duly certified that there are sufficient funds appropriated to the credit of the proper fund from which the expenditure is to be made, which certificate must be obtained prior to the incurrence of the obligation, and the head of any department or division authorized to contract expenditures will be held personally responsible for any obligation incurred contrary to the provisions of this section. Such certificate shall not be issued for obligations pertaining to "Capital Outlay" in programs or activities funded by federal or state categorical grants without the prior approval of the Director of the Department of Finance and Management.
SECTION 13. That with the exception of the provisos (reasons) established in previous sections, as stated in the reason paragraphs following each subdepartment's appropriation, it is understood that this Council is not making specific appropriations for each item of every classification hereinbefore contained but only for the total for each department and subdepartment, as shown in the final column. The itemized classification shall, however, constitute limitations on the powers of the several department heads as granted in Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 and no such officer shall make any expenditure for any other purpose in any amount beyond that of the particular classification; provided, however, that transfers may be made from one Object Level 1 to another, within any one department or division. Transfers of sums exceeding $100,000.00 shall be authorized only by resolution of Council. Transfers of sums of $100,000.00 or less, shall only be approved pursuant to a letter over the signatures of the head of the department, the Director of the Department of Finance and Management, the City Auditor, and the Chairman of the Committee of Finance.
SECTION 14. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to pay obligations of various departments pertaining to preceding years obligations from current appropriations up to a maximum of $25,000.00 per obligation.
SECTION 15. That in the last month of the fiscal year, the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations within any fund, if necessary, and to cancel encumbrances, if necessary, to provide for City payrolls, unpaid internal services, tax adjustments, and other obligations from any object level one within available appropriations to the appropriate object level one.
SECTION 16. 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.