City of Columbus - File #: 0711-2009

• File #: 0711-2009
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 5/6/2009
• In control: Finance & Economic Development Committee
• On agenda: 5/18/2009
• Final action: 5/21/2009
• Title: To decrease appropriations in the general operating fund of the City of Columbus for fiscal year 2009 by $4,500,000, to decrease appropriations in the fleet management fund by $800,600, to decrease appropriations in the technology internal service fund by $976,000, to reduce existing encumbrances for fleet maintenance expenses and technology expenses within certain divisions, to reduce an existing encumbrance for FICA expenses within the Department of Human Resources, to reduce an existing encumbrance for natural gas within the Facilities Management Division, to reduce an existing encumbrance within the Division of Fleet Management for vehicle purchases, to appropriate and transfer $720,130 from the general government grant fund to the economic stabilization fund, to authorize the appropriation of up to $45,000,000 within the economic stabilization fund, to authorize and direct the City Auditor, in consultation with the Finance and Management Director, to transfer the appropriate port...

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
5/21/2009	1	ACTING CITY CLERK	Attest
5/20/2009	1	MAYOR	Signed
5/18/2009	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass
5/18/2009	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
5/8/2009	1	Finance Drafter	Sent to Clerk's Office for Council
5/7/2009	1	Finance Drafter	Sent for Approval
5/7/2009	1	Auditor Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
5/7/2009	1	CITY AUDITOR	Reviewed and Approved
5/7/2009	1	Finance Drafter	Sent for Approval
5/7/2009	1	CITY ATTORNEY	Reviewed and Approved
5/6/2009	1	Finance Drafter	Sent for Approval
5/6/2009	1	FINANCE DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved

Explanation
BACKGROUND AND FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance decreases general fund appropriations for fiscal year 2009 by $4,500,000 to partially address the City Auditor's reduction of the 2009 estimate of available resources into the general operating fund of $16,000,000. This ordinance reduces appropriations within general fund divisions as follows: personnel savings, including hiring controls ($510,000), reducing the budget for shift differential in the Division of Fire ($200,000), reducing agency fleet budgets due to lower billings resulting largely from savings in the cost of fuel ($800,600), reducing the citywide general fund technology budget due to lower billings resulting largely from hiring and expenditure controls ($976,000), reducing the budget for the jail contract due to lower than projected billings for the housing of prisoners ($1,000,000), reducing the budget for custodial services and natural gas ($545,000), reducing the budget for vehicle replacement ($300,000), a reduction due to unneeded funds for the severance payout ($156,000) and other miscellaneous savings ($12,400)

This ordinance also authorizes a transfer of up to $45 million from the economic stabilization fund to the general operating fund. Of this sum, $28.5 million was assumed to be needed to support general fund appropriations when the budget was enacted, and $11.5 million additional is now needed as a result of the City Auditor's $16 million reduction in his estimate of general operating fund resources in 2009. Finally, the ability to transfer an additional $5 million is authorized in this ordinance in case the revenue situation in the general fund deteriorates further in 2009. The actual transfer amount will be determined by the City Auditor, in consultation with the Finance and Management Director. The economic stabilization fund was established to provide a source of funding for basic city services during times of economic recession or unexpected revenue loss. As ...