Explanation
City Council enacted ordinance #1079-2016 on June 6, 2016, which created the Department of Neighborhoods. This new department consolidated constituent services-Neighborhood Pride, the Community Relations Commission, Neighborhood Liaisons, and the 311 Call Center. This ordinance transfers budget authority from the respective divisions and departments to reflect this realignment of departmental responsibilities.
Specifically, this realignment authorizes the transfer of unencumbered funds from the 311 Call Center in the Department of Public Service to the Department of Neighborhoods. From the Mayor’s Office, the unencumbered funds in the Community Relations Commission (Division) will likewise be transferred to the new department per this legislation. Lastly, portions of the remaining current year budget authority in two program areas within the Development Department will also be transferred. These two program areas are the Neighborhood Pride Program and the Neighborhood and Agency Services Program (Neighborhood Liaisons).
Emergency Designation: This ordinance is submitted as an emergency measure to ensure that the new Department of Neighborhoods, as established via 1079-2016, has the appropriate budget authority to operate.
Fiscal Impact: The transfer of funding and budget authority in this legislation only affects the general fund and the community development block grant fund. No increase in overall funding to either of those funds is requested-merely a transfer of available appropriation. This legislation authorizes the City Auditor to transfer the unencumbered fund balances from the aforementioned four areas as of the end of the fourteenth pay period in an amount not to exceed $2,282,079.00 in the general fund and in an amount not to exceed $140,000.00 in the community development block grant fund.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to transfer all unencumbered balances after the fourteenth pay period in the general fund from the 311 Call Center Program, the Community Relations Commission, and the Neighborhood Pride Program to the Department of Neighborhoods in an amount not to exceed $2,282,079.00; to authorize and direct the City Auditor to transfer an unencumbered balance after the fourteenth pay period in the community development block grant fund from the Neighborhood and Agency Services Program in the Development Department to the Department of Neighborhoods in an amount not to exceed $140,000.00, and to declare an emergency ($2,422,079.00).
Body
WHEREAS, City Council authorized the creation of the Department of Neighborhoods via 1079-2016, realigning departmental responsibilities for the 311 Call Center Program, the Community Relations Commission, the Neighborhood Pride Program, and the Neighborhood and Agency Services Program to it; and
WHEREAS, it is now necessary to transfer all unencumbered balances after the fourteenth pay period in the general fund from the 311 Call Center Program, the Community Relations Commission, and the Neighborhood Pride Program; and
WHEREAS, it is also now necessary to transfer a portion of the unencumbered balance after the fourteenth pay period in the community development block grant fund from the Neighborhood and Agency Services Program in the Development Department to the Department of Neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Neighborhoods in that it is immediately necessary to effectuate the above actions for the preservation of public peace, property, health, and safety; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer the unencumbered balances as of the end of the fourteenth pay period between various departments within the general fund and the community development block grant fund in order to provide budget authority for the new Department of Neighborhoods.
SECTION 2. That for the purposes stated in Section 1, transfers between departments within the general fund should not exceed $2,282,079.00 per the attached (DAX Template - 1552-2016).
SECTION 3. That for the purposes stated in Section 1, transfers between departments within the community development block grant fund should not exceed $140,000.00 per the attached (DAX Template - 1552-2016).
SECTION 4. That the auditor has the authority to establish accounting codes as necessary in order to carry out the purposes of this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.