Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Office of the City Auditor, Division of Income Tax (herein referred to as “Division”) to increase the funding to an existing contract in order to facilitate the development of an unanticipated enhancement to the e-file/e-pay application developed and hosted by FirstData Government Solutions (herein referred to as “FDGS”). Following the initial development and implementation of the basic application, the Division and FDGS have engaged in the development of ongoing upgrades to better serve taxpayers. FDGS’s contract compliance number 59-2957887-001 expires on 10-24-2015.
The Division has requested that a modification be made to the Division’s existing custom eFile/ePay application that will allow for tax rate adjustments for the jurisdictions and localities that are served under this application. When the jurisdictions or localities implement a tax rate change, there presently is no easy way to do this within the current system. As this enhancement was not contemplated at the time the current FDGS contract was authorized, additional funds are required for its execution.
FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation authorizes an increase of $26,780.00 to the existing contract with FDGS for project management, development, quality assurance testing and installation of this tax rate enhancement to the Division’s custom eFile/ePay application. Funding for these expenditures is budgeted within the Division’s 2015 operating budget.
Emergency action is requested as there is an immediate need to enhance the Division’s custom eFile/ePay application, thereby increasing efficiencies and accurate accounting.
Title
To authorize the Office of the City Auditor, Division of Income Tax to increase the funding to an existing contract with First Data Government Solutions for development, quality assurance testing and installation of an enhancement to the Division of Income Tax’s custom e-File/e-Pay application; to authorize an increase of $26,780.00 from the Division of Income Tax’s Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($26,780.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Income Tax has a need for an enhancement to its custom e-File/e-Pay application; and
WHEREAS, First Data Government Solutions developed and supports the Division of Income Tax’s custom eFile/ePay application; and
WHEREAS, the tax rate enhancements provided by First Data Government Solutions will result in improved functionality of the Division of Income Tax’s custom e-File/e-Pay application by ensuring greater tax rate accuracy for online tax filing; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Office of the City Auditor, Division of Income Tax in that it is immediately necessary to fund the implementation of this enhancement to the existing e-File/e-Pay application to insure efficient and accurate operation of the application thus maximizing the operational benefit to the City and its taxpayers, and thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Office of the City Auditor, Division of Income Tax, is hereby authorized and directed to increase the funding to the existing contract #EL017332 with First Data Government Solutions for the purpose of project Management, development, quality assurance testing and installation of an enhancement to the Division of Income Tax’s custom eFile/ePay application.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $26,780.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized from the General Fund 010, Auditor’s Office/Income Tax Division 22-02, OCA Code 220202, Object Level Three 3347.
SECTION 3. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.