Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of $88,338 for fiscal year 2020 within the Franklin County Municipal Court’s Assisted Civil Self Help indigent fund. The program began in January 2016. The program provides information about the court system and non-legal assistance to civil litigants qualifying as indigent and appearing pro se before the Court.
To support the program, the Franklin County Municipal Court instituted a special project cost, as authorized by Ohio Revised Code, § 1901.26(B)(1). The project cost is a $1.00 charge for all civil, traffic, and criminal cases
FISCAL IMPACT: There are sufficient funds available within the Assisted Civil Self Help fund to support the requested appropriation level for 2020.
EMERGENCY: Emergency legislation is requested to authorize the court to appropriate the funds so there is no interruption in services.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $88,338.00 for 2020 from the un-appropriated balance of the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges' assisted civil self-help fund; and to declare an emergency. ($88,338.00)
Body
WHEREAS, an appropriation of $88,338 for fiscal year 2020 within the Franklin County Municipal Court’s Assisted Civil Self Help indigent fund is necessary in order to continue with the services of the self help desk which provides information about the court system to civil litigants qualifying as indigent and appearing pro se before the Court; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exist in the usual daily operation of the Franklin County Municipal Court in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate the aforementioned funds in order for the self help desk to continue providing these services, thereby preserving the public health, peace, safety, and welfare; now, therefore;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the sum of $88,338 be and is hereby appropriated from the unappropriated balance of the special revenue, assisted civil self-help fund, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources unappropriated for any other purposes during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 according to the account codes in the attachment.
SECTION 2. That the monies appropriated in Section 1 shall be paid upon the order of the Administrative and Presiding Judge, and that no Order shall be drawn down or paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 3. 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.