Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the expenditure of up to $1,464,000.00 and authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract in an amount of to $1,464,000.00 with the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County.
The Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County (Housing Trust) combines public and private funding through a variety of sources to support the development of housing within the City. Both rental units and homeownership projects are developed.
In 2022, the City will commit its annual contribution of the hotel/motel tax receipts to the Housing Trust at an estimated $1,464,000.00 or whatever greater or lesser sum of money may be received through the portion of the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax fund allocated to the Housing Trust. The amount is based on 0.43% in relation to the 5.1 % total city rate.
This legislation is presented as an emergency because of the need to continue program services without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation authorizes and directs the appropriation and expenditure of 0.43% of the combined rates of 5.1% of the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax fund, presently estimated at $1,464,000.00, and authorizes an agreement with the Housing Trust. Funding is contingent up passage Ordinance 2743-2021.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Development Department to enter into a contract with the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County to facilitate the production of affordable housing and enhance home ownership opportunities in Columbus; to authorize the expenditure of 0.43% (presently estimated at $1,464,000.00) of the combined rates of 5.1% of the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax; and to declare an emergency. ($1,464,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Mayor Coleman commissioned a Columbus Housing Task Force in May 2000 to design the City’s first housing trust fund and to recommend a structure whereby a Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County could facilitate the production of housing in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the goal of the Housing Trust Fund is that 50% of the City’s leveraged funding would go to benefit citizens who are at or below 60% of the median income; and
WHEREAS, Section 371.02(c) of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, specifies that up to 0.43 percent of the combined rates of 5.1 percent of the revenues of the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax are to be used to support the production of affordable housing and create home ownership opportunities within the city of Columbus through the Columbus Housing Trust; and
WHEREAS, the City has determined to adjust the annual distribution of hotel/motel tax receipts to allow for on-going contributions in the amount of 0.43% of the combined rates of 5.1% of the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax fund (presently estimated at $1,464,000.00) to Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County for this effort; and
WHEREAS, should the actual amount of the 0.43% of the combined rates of 5.1% of the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax fund be greater than presently estimated at $1,464,000.00 at any time during the year, the City Auditor shall have the authority to increase cash appropriations to the amount of cash on hand to meet contractual obligations; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County to continue delivery of program services without interruption, in order to preserve the public peace, health, safety, and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Development Department is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County to support the production of housing in the City of Columbus in an amount up to $1,464,000.00.
SECTION 2. That for the purposes stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $1,464,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2231 (Hotel Motel Tax), Dept-Div 4401, in Object Class 03 (Contractual Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor shall have the authority to increase cash appropriations to the amount of cash on hand at any time during the year to meet contractual obligations should the actual amount of the 0.43% of the combined rates of 5.1% of the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax fund be greater than presently estimated at $1,464,000.00.
SECTION 3. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That in 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.