Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of $100,000 to fund the Water Connection Assistance Program. The program will provide the funding necessary to assist in the abandonment of private on-site water supply systems and to make connections to the City's water supply system. The program is necessary to protect the health and safety and improve the water standards of the residents of Columbus.
Assistance will be offered to low and moderate income persons who own and occupy eligible residences in the form of a 0% interest deferred or low interest (3%) loan. Work eligible under the program shall include but is not limited to the connection cost which includes the front footage fee. Other connection costs including the installation of the water supply line, the meter fee, the tap fee, the system capacity charge, disabling of the on-site supply and the permit fee will be covered by HUD CDBG funds. This program is similar to the Sewer Tie-in Program currently operated by the Housing Division.
Beneficiaries of the program are households/families earning 80% or less of median income for the area as determined by HUD with adjustments for household/family size. An estimated 40 to 45 households will benefit from the program.
Emergency action is requested so that funds for the loans are available immediately.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this program are allocated from the Capitol South Debt Service Fund.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $100,000 from the unappropriated balance of the Capitol South Debt Service Fund to the Department of Development; to authorize the expenditure of $100,000 from the Capitol South Debt Service Fund for the purpose of making loans under the Water Connection Assistance Program; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development, Housing Division desires to use funds from the Capitol South Debt Service Fund to administer a Water Connection Assistance Program; and
WHEREAS, these monies will be used to provide loans to assist in the abandonment of private on-site water supply systems and to make connections to the City's water supply system; and
WHEREAS, a Water Connection Assistance Program is necessary to protect the health and safety, and improve the water standards of the residents of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, assistance will be offered to low and moderate income persons who own and occupy eligible residences in the form of a 0% interest deferred or low interest (3%) loan; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, Housing Division, in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate and expend said funds thereby preserving 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 from the unappropriated monies in the fund known as the Capitol South Debt Service Fund, the sum of $100,000.00 be and is hereby appropriated to the Department of Development, Department No. 44-10, Fund No. 481, Object Level One 05, OCA Code 243019.
Section 2. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 1 shall be paid upon the order of the Department of Development 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 3. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to make loans to eligible residents under the Water Connection Assistance Program administered by the Housing Division to assist in the abandonment of private on-site water supply systems and to make connections to the City's water supply system.
Section 4. That for the purpose as stated in Section 3, the expenditure of $100,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized from the Department of Development, Division 44-10, Fund 481, Object Level One 05, Object Level Three 5528, OCA Code 243019.
Section 5. 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.