Explanation
BACKGROUND AND FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance decreases general fund appropriations for fiscal year 2020 by $41,500,000 to address the City Auditor's reduction of the 2020 estimate of available resources into the general operating fund. On June 9, 2020, the City Auditor published her revised estimate as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its effects on the local economy and related revenue streams into the general fund. Due to spending controls put in place at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, projected savings have been identified in almost all general funded city departments. This ordinance net reduces appropriations within general fund divisions in accordance with projections made at the end of the second quarter, with a few exceptions due to updated information. After completing the third quarter review, additional transfers will likely be needed based on revised projections available in the fourth quarter.
As part of this overall general fund reduction, the general fund subsidies to Columbus Public Health and Recreation and Parks must be lowered. As such, equal reductions to the health special revenue fund and the Recreation and Parks operation and extension fund are also authorized in this legislation. However, in order to meet its projected obligations, an appropriation of $400,000 in the health special revenue fund’s cash balance/expected revenue is needed by Columbus Public Health subsequent to the aforementioned reduction. In addition, some projected savings identified in the general fund at the end of the second quarter are currently encumbered in the following internal services: fleet, mail, and information services. Therefore, partial cancellations of existing encumbrances in these internal services, and others, are necessary. Likewise, subsequent reductions in those internal service funds are also authorized in this legislation.
Emergency Designation is requested as it is immediately necessary to adjust the genera...
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