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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-OR-57 \f,� �f�, Ordinance No. 2017-OR-.5? An Ordinance Mandating Department Heads and City Employees Refrain from Entering In Long Term Agreements In Violation Of Indiana Statutes Regulating Budget Process and Budget Funding Whereas, the Jeffersonville City Council is vested with the statutory duty of oversight of the city's finances; Whereas, Indiana Code 36-4-8-12(2)(b) provides that "a city department, officer, or employee may not obligate the city to any extent beyond the amount of money appropriated for that department, officer or employee. An obligation made in violation of this section is void." Whereas, a city department, officer or employ may obligate the city beyond the amount of money appropriated for the department, officer or employee if: (c) A city department,officer,or employee may obligate the city beyond the amount of money appropriated for that department,officer, or employee if- (]) the obligation is made under a multi-year interlocal cooperation agreement entered into by the city and one(1)or more political subdivisions or governmental entities under IC 36-1-7; and (2) the agreement described in subdivision(1)is approved by the fiscal body of the city. Whereas, if a city department, officer or employ violates this ordinance and the statute the contract, agreement or lease, is subject to the following: (d) An obligation described in subsection(c)may be terminated: (1) if the city provides notice of the termination of the obligation at least one(1)year before the termination of the obligation; or (2) the city and the political subdivisions or governmental entities that have entered into the interlocal cooperation agreement otherwise agree to the termination. 1 Whereas, there have been instances wherein heads of city departments, officers or employees of the city have entered into leases, contracts and agreements that have bound the city to financial obligations that exceed the fiscal year during which the agreement was entered. Whereas, the council budgets funds at the request of the city departments for use for all of those annual expenditures that the city departments reasonably foresee are necessary on an annual basis. City government budgets are annual budgets. It is the expectation of the council that the various departments and elected officials will conscientiously over-see their annual budget expenditure and NOT enter into agreements that are essentially unfunded mandates attempting to require the council to budget payments for those commitments beyond the budget year. Whereas, in an effort to provide guidance, continuity and to insure that the taxpayers and citizens of Jeffersonville are best served by its government, the council would adopt the following ordinance mandating the city, city department heads, officers and employees adhere to Indiana law and DO NOT enter into agreements that commit the city to debt beyond the amount budget for the calendar year UNLESS the city, city departments heads, officers and employees follow the process for securing approval from the council as set forth by Indiana Code. Wherefore, if the city, city department heads, officers or employees enter into any agreement in violation of this ordinance and the applicable Indiana Code; BE IT ORDAINED THAT: A. Any agreement entered into in violation of Indiana Code 36-4-8-12 and any and all other agreements that are entered into that mandate the city council budget funds to pay for contracts, leases and other long term agreements beyond the annual budget, shall be null and void; 2 B. Any department head, officer or employee that enters into a contract, lease or any agreement in violation of Indiana Code 36-4-8-12 and/or any other provision of law MAY be held personally liable for the cost of said encumbrance if the city is unable to revoke the contract, lease or agreement that violates the applicable Indiana Code and any other provision of Indiana law. C. Severability Clause: If any provision of this Ordinance or application thereof to any person or circumstance is held unlawful or otherwise invalid such invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this Ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid application or provision and to this end each such invalid provision or application of this Ordinance is severable it is hereby declared to be the intent of the Jeffersonville City Council that this Ordinance would have been issued had any such unlawful or otherwise invalid provision or application not be included. BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED that any previous established Ordinance Mandating Department Heads and City Employees Refrain from Entering In Long Term Agreements In Violation Of Indiana Statutes Regulating Budget Process and Budget Funding are hereby dissolved and terminated upon passage by City Council and signed by Mayor. VOTED FOR: � TFQ,AGAIN T;. 3 Passed and adopted by the Common Cou cil of the City of Jeffersonville, Clark County, Indiana, this day of ( ' 2017. sa Gil , President BY: 7z (�J� Vicki Conlin, City Clerk Presented by meas Clerk to the Mayor of said City of Jeffersonville this day of , 2017. Vicki Conlin, City Clerk This rdinance approved and signed by me this y of • 2017. Mike Moore, Mayor 4