Explanation
Background
This legislation amends Ordinance 1884-2026, which was approved by Columbus City Council on June 29, 2026. That ordinance authorized the Director of the Office of Education to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners for the transition of the Early Start Columbus Program from the City of Columbus to Franklin County and to transfer the amount of $6,215,825.00. The agreed-upon amount, however, was stated in error and this ordinance is to correct a $350 variance between the amount negotiated and the amount appropriated.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to allow the transition of the program and transfer of funding to be completed for the successful implementation of the program by Franklin County for the 2026-2027 school year which has already begun.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the 2026 Office of Education General Fund, to authorize a transfer within the general fund and authorizes an additional expenditure of $350.00 from the 2026 Office of Education General Operating fund, in accordance with the Intergovernmental Agreement.
Title
To amend Ordinance 1884-2026 to correct the amount of funds authorized for the Early Start Columbus Program; To authorize a transfer within the general fund and authorize an additional expenditure of $350.00 from the 2026 Office of Education General Operating fund; and to declare an emergency. ($350.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1884-2026 authorized the Director of the Office of Education to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners for the transition of the Early Start Columbus Program from the City of Columbus to Franklin County and to transfer the amount of $6,215,825.00; and
WHEREAS, after passage of Ordinance 1884-2026 it was determined that the amount of funding committed was incorrectly stated in the ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the City Auditor’s Office and City Attorney’s Office request that Ordinance 1884-2026 be amended in order to correct the drafting error in the values of the value authorized to be expended towards the program in order to bring it into alignment with the agreement of the parties; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operations of the Office of the Department of Education in that funds are unable to be distributed to support the program that has already commenced due to the variance between the language of the legislation and the contractual obligations of the City; and NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the background of Ordinance 1884-2026 is hereby amended as follows:
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Office of Education to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners for the transition of the Early Start Columbus Program from the City of Columbus to Franklin County and to transfer the amount of $6,215,825.00 $6,216,175.00 from the 2026 Office of Education General Fund.
This transition will allow for a more regional strategic approach to early learning in Franklin County and all of Central Ohio with the goal of serving more children. Franklin County has demonstrated success in serving children, county-wide, in quality early education through their Franklin County RISE program. The transition of the Early Start Columbus program from the City of Columbus to Franklin County will provide the County with another proven early education tool as they strive to fulfill their mission in early childhood education. The Office of Education has neither the experience nor the expertise to engage in a regional early education expansion.
Ordinance 1786-2026 authorizes the Office of Education to enter into contracts with Early Start Columbus providers for the 2026-2027 school year, and assign those individual contracts to Franklin County in accordance with the terms of the Intergovernmental Agreement.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to allow the transition of the program and transfer of funding to be completed for the successful implementation of the program by Franklin County for the 2026-2027 school year.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the 2026 Office of Education General Fund, and authorizes a new expenditure of $6,215,825.00 $6,216,175.00 from the 2026 Office of Education General Operating fund, in accordance with the Intergovernmental Agreement. This ordinance also authorizes a transfer amount of up to $6,215,825.00 $6,216,175.00 in accordance with the assignment provisions in Ordinance 1786-2026, and the terms of the Intergovernmental Agreement.
SECTION 2. That the title of Ordinance 1884-2026 is hereby amended as follows:
To authorize the Director of the Office of Education enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners for the transition of the Early Start Columbus Program from the City of Columbus to Franklin County, to authorize a transfer of cash between objects within the Office of Education General Fund; to authorize an expenditure of $6,215,825.00 $6,216,175.00 , to be paid to the Franklin County Board of Commissioners for the purpose of this ordinance, from the Office of Education General Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($6,215,825.00 $6,216,175.00)
SECTION 3. That the recitals of Ordinance 1884-2026 are hereby amended as follows:
WHEREAS, both the City of Columbus and Franklin County seek to create a more regional strategic approach to expanding early education in Central Ohio; and
WHEREAS, through their Franklin County RISE program, the County has demonstrated success in providing high-quality early learning programming; and
WHEREAS, transitioning the Early Start Columbus program from the City of Columbus to Franklin County will provide the County with another proven early education tool as they strive to fulfill their mission in early childhood education; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Office of Education to enter into an intergovernmental transfer agreement with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $6,215,825.00 $6,216,175.00 from the General Fund;
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize a transfer of up to $6,215,825.00 $6,216,175.00 in accordance with the terms of Ordinance 1726-2026 and the terms of the Intergovernmental Agreement; and
WHEREAS, this agreement is in accordance with Ohio Revised Code Section 167.06 relating to intergovernmental transfers; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Office of Education in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners to allow for the transition of the Early Start Columbus program and the transfer of funding as soon as possible in order for the successful implementation of the program by Franklin County for the 2026-2027 school year, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
SECTION 4. That SECTION 3 of Ordinance 1884-2026 is hereby amended as follows:
SECTION 3. That available appropriations in the amount of $6,215,825.00 $6,216,175.00 is authorized to be transferred from Object Class 03 - Purchased Services to Object Class 05 - Other, for the Office of Education.
SECTION 5. That SECTION 4 of Ordinance 1884-2026 is hereby amended as follows:
SECTION 4. That $6,215,825.00 $6,216,175.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be paid the Franklin County Board of Commissioners for the purpose of this ordinance from the 2026 Office of Education General Fund.
SECTION 6. That the existing Background, Title, Recitals, and Sections 3 and 4 of Ordinance 1884-2026 are hereby repealed.
SECTION 7. That this ordinance, for the reasons stated in the preamble, which are made a part of this ordinance and fully incorporated for reference as if rewritten, is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after this ordinance’s passage and approval by the Mayor or ten (10) days after its adoption if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.