City of Columbus - File #: 1590-2008

• File #: 1590-2008
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 10/1/2008
• In control: Judiciary And Court Administration Committee
• On agenda: 10/20/2008
• Final action: 10/22/2008
• Title: To authorize the appropriation of $84,000 for 2008 from the unappropriated balance of the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges dispute resolution fund for all anticipated expenses associated with the enhancement of small claim services; and to declare an emergency. ($84,000)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
10/22/2008	1	CITY CLERK	Attest
10/21/2008	1	MAYOR	Signed
10/20/2008	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass
10/20/2008	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
10/3/2008	1	Finance Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
10/3/2008	1	FINANCE DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
10/3/2008	1	MuniCrtJudges Drafter	Sent for Approval
10/3/2008	1	CITY ATTORNEY	Reviewed and Approved
10/3/2008	1	MuniCrtJudges Drafter	Sent to Clerk's Office for Council
10/2/2008	1	ODI DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
10/2/2008	1	MuniCrtJudges Drafter	Sent for Approval
10/2/2008	1	Auditor Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
10/2/2008	1	CITY AUDITOR	Reviewed and Approved
10/2/2008	1	MuniCrtJudges Drafter	Sent for Approval
10/2/2008	1	Finance Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
10/1/2008	1	MuniCrtJudges Drafter	Sent for Approval
10/1/2008	1	MUNICRTJUDGES DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
10/1/2008	1	MuniCrtJudges Drafter	Sent for Approval
10/1/2008	1	EBOCO Reviewer	Sent for Approval

Explanation

BACKGROUND:

This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of $84,000 and reflects the anticipated expenses for fiscal year 2008 within the Franklin County Municipal Court's fund for dispute resolution. The Franklin County Municipal Court instituted its pre-filing mediation program for small claims cases in 1984; the program provides mediation services for individuals and business who wish to resolve their disputes and avoid filing a small claims case. Currently, this program schedules 2,500 mediations annually. Another type of service, which is for businesses and government agencies attempting to collect on accounts payable, is the accounts mediation program that helps businesses resolve hundreds of cases each year.

To support this effort, the Franklin County Municipal Court instituted a special project cost, as authorized by the Ohio Revised Code, § 1901.26 (B)(1). The project cost is a $15.00 per case charge that covers up to five checks per debtor. It is expected that the program will generate $75,000 in revenue annually.

Funds are to be used to assist in the support of dispute resolution program efforts within the Small Claims Division, not to supplant existing funds. The intent of these funds is to provide for the purchase of services and other similar small claims-related expenses not currently available to the Court's small claims services department.

EMERGENCY: Emergency action is requested to allow uninterrupted payments to vendors.



Title

To authorize the appropriation of $84,000 for 2008 from the unappropriated balance of the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges dispute resolution fund for all anticipated expenses associated with the enhancement of small claim services; and to declare an emergency. ($84,000)



Body

Whereas, an appropriation of these funds is necessary in order to continue with the enhancement of small claim services and the payment thereof; and

Whereas, an emergency exists i...