Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the City Auditor to establish an encumbrance for the payment of contract services with Columbus Early Learning Centers (CELC). CELC is the existing Pre-Kindergarten education program provider at the Hilltop Early Learning Center, as authorized by Ord 1754-2025. Pursuant to Ord 1754-2025, the Office of Education was authorized to enter into an Operations Agreement with CELC. This Operations Agreement had an initial term for the period September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. An encumbrance is therefore needed to pay contract services related to pre-kindergarten programming for the first renewal period of September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027.
$2,120,000 $1,973,564.00 in additional funds will be expended under this modification. The need for additional funding and services were foreseen at the time the contract was initially awarded, and were appropriated in the 2026 Operating Budget. It would not be in the city's best interests to have the additional contract requirements awarded through other procurement processes specified in this chapter as Columbus Early Learning Centers has operated the Master Operator of the Hilltop Early Learning Center since 2022. The funding for the additional services are consistent with prior year funding.
This amendment reduces the overall appropriation by $146,436.00 to account for the amount in rent to be transferred to the Department of Development in accordance with Ordinances 1754-2025 and 0441-2022. Previously, rent had been paid by CELC to the Department of Development. Ordinance 1754-2025 authorized the Office of Education to withhold the amount of rent from the appropriation to CELC and transfer those funds to the Department of Development.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the expenditure of $2,120,000.00 $1,973,564.00 with Columbus Early Learning Centers for the period September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027. Funding for this contract is budgeted and ava...
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