Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court to accept a grant in the amount of $58,316.01 from the State of Ohio, Attorney General, Crime Victim Assistance Office, and to appropriate from the unappropriated balance of the general government grant fund to the Probation Department of the Franklin County Municipal Court, the total amount of the grant. This grant will fund a portion of the salaries and fringe benefits of two (2) victim assistant staff for the continuation of a program to assist probation officers primarily in the domestic violence unit. The staff acts as liaisons to the City Prosecutor and works with the victims of crime when a perpetrator has been placed on probation.
Emergency Legislation is requested so the grant funds can be used as close to the start date as possible.
FISCAL IMPACT $58,316.01 will be expended from the General Governmental Grant Fund.
Title
To authorize and direct the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court to accept a grant award from the State of Ohio, Crime Victims Assistance Office; to appropriate $58,316.01 from the unappropriated balance of the general government grant fund to the Franklin County Municipal Court Department of Probation and Pretrial Services to provide continued funding of two staff to work with the victims of crime when a perpetrator has been on probation; and to declare an emergency. ($58,316.01)
Body
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to provide victim services in the Franklin County Municipal Court, Department of Probation Services; and
WHEREAS, a grant from the State of Ohio, Attorney General, Crime Victims Assistance Office in the amount of $58,316.01 has been awarded to provide a portion of the costs; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Franklin County Municipal Court in that it is immediately necessary to authorize and direct the Administrative and Presiding Judge to accept the aforementioned grant to continue probationary services in the area of victim assistance and to appropriate and transfer the necessary funds for the program, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; Now, Therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court be and is hereby authorized to accept a grant in the amount of $58,316.01 from the State of Ohio, Crime Victims Assistance Office.
SECTION 2. Funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated. That from the unappropriated balance in the general government grant fund, fund 2220, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and appropriated for any other purpose during the months ending September 30, 2023, the sum of $58,316.01 is appropriated to the Franklin County Municipal Court according to the account codes in the attachment.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grant is hereby authorized, and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby 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.