Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health (CPH) is hosting three farmers’ markets in 2023. The markets in 2023 will be held on July 20th, July 27th and August 10th. This ordinance establishes an imprest petty cash operating fund in the amount of $5,000.00 for the three markets for the reimbursement to farmers who accept the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) services for market customers using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Produce Perks Farmers Market Nutrition Incentive program tokens as payment during the markets.
At each market, the CPH Farmers Market Staff will swipe customer Ohio Directions EBT cards and provide one token for each $1.00 in SNAP benefits they redeem plus a matching Produce Perks token for each $1.00 in SNAP benefits redeemed up to a maximum of $25.00 per EBT transaction. Customers will shop at the markets, using the tokens provided. At the end of each market, the CPH Farmers Market Staff will reimburse the farmers $1.00 for each SNAP token received and $1.00 for each Produce Perks token they have accepted as payment during the market. To facilitate this, a cash box will be required at each of the three farmers markets. After the market, reimbursement will be submitted immediately. Columbus Public Health will be reimbursed the next day for the SNAP benefits redeemed and will be reimbursed 2-4 weeks after each market for the Produce Perks.
Emergency action is requested in order to have the cash available to reimburse farmers after the first market held on July 20th, 2023.
Fiscal Impact: To provide the sum of $5,000.00 to create an imprest petty cash fund for the three farmers' markets. At the conclusion of the markets, remaining cash is deposited back into the City fund and all disbursed cash is reimbursed and deposited. There is zero net cost to the City to provide the petty cash fund.
Title
To authorize the establishment of an imprest petty cash operating fund for the Columbus Public Health farmer...
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