Explanation
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to refund application fees to approximately thirty-five participants in the Septic Tank Elimination Program as the Department has eliminated the $2,000 fee for future participants, and thus it is equitable to refund the fee to those who have already paid it.
This ordinance also authorizes an appropriation transfer in order to provide the appropriations in the necessary object class for these refund expenditures.
SUPPLIER:
FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact is estimated to be up to $80,000 for these refunds. It is necessary to transfer $80,000.00 in appropriation authority from object class 06 Capital Outlay to object class 05 Other Expenditures within the Sewerage System Operating Fund to provide the appropriations necessary for these refunds expenditures.
$0.00 was spent in 2016
$0.00 was spent in 2015
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes in the Sewerage System Operating Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to refund the $2,000.00 application fee to the current participants in the Septic Tank Elimination Program, for the Division of Sewerage and Drainage, and to authorize the expenditure of $80,000.00 from the Sewerage System Operating Fund. ($80,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in 2013, City Council enacted Columbus City Code section1145.23 for the purpose of creating a Septic Tank Elimination Program (“Program”). The purpose of the Program was to provide financial assistance to Columbus residents connecting to the City’s sewer system; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Code Section 1145.23 authorized the Director of Public Utilities to adopt rules to implement the program, including authorizing administrative fees for the programs; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to that authority, in February 2013 the Director adopted Rule and Regulation 01-2013 to implement the Program. Rule 01-2013 included an administrative fee of $2,000 per application; and
WHEREAS, in implementing the program, the Department of Public Utilities has encountered residents who find the administrative fee a burden and a deterrent to participating in the Program; and
WHEREAS, participation in the program encourages timely connection to the sewer, which is in the best interest of the Department; and
WHEREAS, the Director has therefore amended Rule 01-2013 to eliminate the administrative fee for future applications, see Rule 01-2017; and
WHEREAS, it is equitable to refund the application fees of the past participants of the program; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to transfer funds between objects classes within the Sewerage System Operating Fund to provide the appropriations necessary for these refund expenditures; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Sewerage and Drainage, to authorize the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes within the Sewerage System Operating Fund and to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to refund the application fees of the past participants of the Septic Tank Elimination Program; 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 $80,000.00 in appropriations within the Sewerage System Operating Fund, Fund 6100, Subfund 000000 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Utilities be and is hereby authorized to refund the administrative fee to any participant in the Septic Tank Elimination Program who paid the fee. There are approximately thirty-five such participants.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $80,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 6100 Sewerage System Operating Fund in object class 05 Other Expenditures per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.