Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Auditor to transfer funds from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to the Water Operating Fund.
In 2023 and 2024, the department offered a one-time $60 and $65 bill credit, respectively, for approved Water low-income customers to offset the annual rate increases for those years. These credits were made possible due to the City's receipt of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which were appropriated to the City's Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. In 2025, a one-time credit was also offered for approved low-income Power customers.
Enough ARPA balance remains for the City to provide additional support. From the remaining balance of $34,036.00, the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) identified up to $23,059.54 that can be used to help 87 senior citizens avoid water service disconnection.
Customer eligibility criteria for the proposed use of the remaining funds is as follows:
• Customer receives a senior citizen discount.
• Customer has a delinquent balance that is more than 30 days past due and is at risk of disconnection.
• Customer is an active tenant or a verified property owner (based on auditor records) and not listed as deceased.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is sufficient budget authority available in the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund’s Budget to fund the $23,059.54 transfer. These funds were originally encumbered on ACDI002426 per the authorization in Ordinance 2501-2024, and transferred to ACDI002550, per the authorization in Ordinance 0915-2026.
$673,675.00 was transferred in 2025
$298,875.00 was transferred in 2024
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to transfer $23,059.54 from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to the Water Operating Fund to reimburse that fund for the cost of helping eligible senior citizen customers avoid disconnection. ($23,059.54)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department offered a one-time $60 bill credit in 2023 and a one-time $65 bill credit in 2024 for approved low-income Water customers, supported by the City's receipt of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds; and
WHEREAS, for 2025, the Department offered a one-time $65 bill credit for approved low-income Water customers and a one-time $50 bill credit for approved low-income Power customers; and
WHEREAS, the Department intends to use remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to provide financial assistance to senior citizens at risk of service disconnection; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities has a need to transfer $23,059.54 between Object Classes within the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (Fund 2209), and funds for the transfer have been identified and are available in Object Class 05 (Other Expenditures); and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities has a need to transfer $23,059.54 between the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund and the Water Operating Fund in order to reimburse the Water Operating Fund for financial assistance provided to senior citizens at risk of service disconnection; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to authorize the City Auditor to process this transfer; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the transfer of $23,059.54 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 2209 (Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund), from Dept-Div 6001 (Public Utilities Director's Office), object class 05 (Other Expenditures) to Dept-Div 6001 (Public Utilities Director's Office), object class 10 (Transfers Out) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $23,059.54 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from Fund 2209 (Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund), Dept-Div 6001 (Public Utilities Director's Office) to Fund 6000 (Water Operating Fund), Dept-Div 6009 (Division of Water), per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.