Explanation
This legislation will authorize the City to provide support to the Columbus Historical Society (CHS), which is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, presenting and promoting the history of Columbus, Ohio. The mission of the Columbus Historical Society is to educate the citizenry, to preserve the historical artifacts of Central Ohio, and to instill pride, love and respect for ourselves, our cultures, and our ways of life. CHS accomplishes its mission through exhibits, collections, and heritage-based economic development and tourism programs. CHS is the steward of Columbus’ past and has been entrusted with a monumental duty to preserve and protect it.
In Columbus, Ohio, the Columbus Historical Society is tasked with maintaining our city’s history, but history and historic preservation are under threat nationwide, and this has impacted local efforts. At the federal level, the 2013 federal sequestration forced $110 million in cuts to national parks and in turn, the closure, reduced hours, or other cost saving measures to be taken at all national parks including historic sites. Ohio’s cuts to historical sites started several years before the national cuts. In 2009, four historic sites were temporarily or permanently closed due to budget cuts. Even the Ohio History Connection (formerly the Ohio Historical Society) in Columbus went on a mandatory furlough for one week to save money. Since 2008, CHS has had a 60% reduction in support.
City Council deems this an appropriate use of Jobs Growth Funds made available through the 2015 budget process.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to appropriate and expend $25,000.00 from the Jobs Growth fund and to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Historical Society for program support and development. ($25,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate and expend $25,000.00 from the Jobs Growth fund and to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Historical Society for program support and development; and
WHEREAS, the mission of the Columbus Historical Society is to educate the citizenry, to preserve the historical artifacts of Central Ohio, and to instill pride, love, and respect for ourselves, our cultures, and our ways of life through exhibits, collections, and heritage-based economic development and tourism programs; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Historical Society is tasked with maintaining our city’s history, but history and historic preservation are under threat nationwide, and this has impacted local efforts; and
WHEREAS, it has been determined that entering into a grant agreement with the Columbus Historical Society for program support and development is an appropriate use of Jobs Growth funds made available through the 2015 budget process; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor be and he is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $25,000.00 in the Jobs Growth fund as follows:
Dept: 20
Fund Type: Jobs Growth
Fund: 15
Object Level 1: 3336
OCA Code: 200115
Amount: $25,000
SECTION 2. That Columbus City Council is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Historical Society for program support and development.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $25,000.00 be and hereby is authorized in:
Dept: 20
Fund Type: Jobs Growth
Fund: 15
Object Level 1: 3336
OCA Code: 200115
Amount: $25,000
SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.