Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Franklin County Public Defender Commission performs all the duties and responsibilities under Section 12 of the City Charter, Chapter 173 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, and Sections 120.13 and 120.14(e) of the Ohio Revised Code in providing legal counsel to indigent persons charged with criminal offenses. Since 1976, the City has contracted with the Commission to represent in the Franklin County Municipal Court all indigent persons charged (based on poverty guidelines as determined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services) with the violations of an ordinance of the City of Columbus. Except for State charged misdemeanors, the City funds the Municipal Unit while the Franklin County Commissioners fund the balance.
Emergency action is requested since the start of this contract was January 1, 2008.
FISCAL IMPACT: This contract is presented on the basis of an understanding that the total contract for services upon which the City will pay the Commission is $3,961,702, of which it is expected the State Public Defender Commission will reimburse an estimated 25%, and the Franklin County Commissioners will pay 54.3% of the remaining expenses that are the result of State charged misdemeanors for a net cost to the City of $1,357,873. This amount was reduced to account for the city's portion of a supplemental reimbursement from the State of $91,119, lowering the amount to $1,266,754.
In the event the State reimburses at a different rate and/or the actual State charged misdemeanors differs, the contract may be amended upward or the City may be due reimbursement.
The amount budgeted for this contract in 2008 was $1,230,000.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into contract with the Franklin County Public Defender Commission to provide legal counsel to indigent persons charged with criminal offenses, to authorize the expenditure of $1,266,754 from the General Fund and to declare an emergency. ($1,266,754)
Body
WHEREAS, The City of Columbus recognizes its responsibilities as defined in Section 12 of the City Charter, Chapter 173 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, and Sections 120.13 and 120.14(e) of the Ohio Revised Code to provide legal counsel to indigent persons charged with criminal offenses; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus in furtherance of the execution of its legal responsibilities, desires to provide such legal services to the City's indigent citizens and others so situated, and to do so in cooperation with the Franklin County Public Defender Commission; and
WHEREAS, this contract is presented on the basis of an understanding that the total contract for services upon which the City will pay the Commission is $3,961,702, of which it is expected the State Public Defender Commission will reimburse an estimated 25%, and the Franklin County Commissioners will pay 54.3% of the remaining expenses that are the result of State charged misdemeanors for a net cost to the City of $1,357,873, less the city's share of a State supplemental reimbursement from the of $91,119, bringing the amount to $1,266,754; and
WHEREAS, at the completion of the contract a reconciliation payment is made or received by the City based on actual expenditures vs. anticipated expenditures, actual State charged misdemeanors vs. anticipated, and actual State Public Defender Commission reimbursement vs. anticipated reimbursements; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of government of the City of Columbus that it is immediately necessary to authorize a contract with the Franklin County Public Defender Commission in order to assure the continuity of legal services to indigent persons in Columbus thereby preserving the public peace, property, health, safety and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management be and is hereby authorized to contract with the Franklin County Public Defender Commission of Columbus, Ohio for the period of January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008.
SECTION 2. That the sum of $1,266,754 be and hereby is authorized to be expended from the General Fund, Sub-Fund 01-100, Department of Finance and Management, Department 45-01, Object Level One 03, OCA Code 450015, Object Level Three 3337, to pay the cost thereof.
SECTION 3. 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.