Columbus Repays $12,175 in Federal Rental Aid Flagged for Suspected Misuse
Emergency legislation authorizes the reimbursement from interest reserves to repay federal housing funds flagged for potential fraud, waste, and abuse.
Columbus City Council approved emergency legislation at its Oct. 26 meeting authorizing the city to reimburse $12,175 to the U.S. Department of Treasury from the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund. The reimbursement returns grant money awarded for rental assistance that city officials flagged as potential fraud, waste, and abuse.
Columbus City Hall and Portman Plaza at 90 W. Broad St. in downtown Columbus.
Credit: General Ization / Wikimedia Commons Image source
The action marks the second return of federal emergency rental funds approved by council in 2026. At its Aug. 24 meeting, Columbus City Council approved emergency legislation authorizing the expenditure of $438,813.48 to reimburse the U.S. Department of Treasury from the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund. According to city legislative records, the U.S. Department of Treasury authorized the ERA2 return in the amount of $438,813.48, and the new measure provides for the required reimbursement of ERA1 funds in the amount of $12,175.00. Combined, the two repayments total $450,988.48, pushing returned federal housing assistance past $450,000.
City officials are covering the repayments without tapping municipal tax revenue or reducing public services. According to city legislative records, the required repayment will be made using interest earnings set aside for this purpose, minimizing impacts on city operations and local resources.
The repayments follow closeout procedures for the federal pandemic assistance program. When closeout concluded April 30, 2026, the city verified funding amounts across both rental assistance rounds for potential fraud, waste, and abuse previously reported to federal oversight entities, including the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery and Offices of Inspector General.
Columbus received its initial Emergency Rental Assistance allocation under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, covering Dec. 27, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2022. Under federal uniform guidance, the city is required to return funds for any potential instances of fraud, waste, or abuse. City officials requested emergency action to mitigate the risk of potential penalties and assure compliance with a 30-day deadline. The ordinance was declared an emergency measure taking effect upon mayoral approval, with federal closeout instructions requiring the return to be transferred via ACH.
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Columbus City Council · 2026-10-26
Supporting evidence (2)
Columbus City Council approved emergency legislation at its Oct. 26 meeting authorizing the city to reimburse $12,175 to the U.S. Department of Treasury from the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund.
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REGULAR MEETING NO. 47 OF COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL, MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026 at 5:00 P.M. IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
Columbus City Council approved emergency legislation at its Oct. 26 meeting authorizing the city to reimburse $12,175 to the U.S. Department of Treasury from the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund.
Read supporting passage
2716-2026 · To authorize the Director of Finance and Management to reimburse the U.S. Department of Treasury for ERA1 allocation; and to authorize the expenditure of $12,175.00 from the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($12,175.00) Approved ·
Supporting evidence (10)
The reimbursement returns grant money awarded for rental assistance that city officials flagged as potential fraud, waste, and abuse.
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WHEREAS, ERA1 funds awarded for certain allowable rental assistance and housing stability expenditures were suspected by the City as potential fraud, waste, and/or abuse of program dollars; and
According to city legislative records, the U.S. Department of Treasury authorized the ERA2 return in the amount of $438,813.48, and the new measure provides for the required reimbursement of ERA1 funds in the amount of $12,175.00.
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The U.S. Department of Treasury authorized the ERA2 return in the amount of $438,813.48 and that return was approved on Ord. 2290-2026.
According to city legislative records, the U.S. Department of Treasury authorized the ERA2 return in the amount of $438,813.48, and the new measure provides for the required reimbursement of ERA1 funds in the amount of $12,175.00.
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This ordinance is necessary to provide for the required reimbursement of ERA1 funds to the U.S. Department of Treasury in the amount of $12,175.00.
According to city legislative records, the required repayment will be made using interest earnings set aside for this purpose, minimizing impacts on city operations and local resources.
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The required repayment will be made using ERA interest earnings that have been set aside for this purpose, minimizing impacts on City operations and local resources.
When closeout concluded April 30, 2026, the city verified funding amounts across both rental assistance rounds for potential fraud, waste, and abuse previously reported to federal oversight entities, including the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery and Offices of Inspector General.
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ERA2 closeout ended April 30, 2026, at which time the City verified the amount suspected in both ERA1 and ERA2 for potential fraud, waste, and/or abuse previously reported to federal oversight entities including: the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR) and Offices of Inspector General (OIG).
Columbus received its initial Emergency Rental Assistance allocation under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, covering Dec. 27, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2022.
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The City received Emergency Rental Assistance (“ERA1”) Program funding through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, from the U.S. Department of Treasury for the period December 27, 2020 through September 30, 2022.
Under federal uniform guidance, the city is required to return funds for any potential instances of fraud, waste, or abuse.
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In agreement with the acceptance of ERA1, the City is required to comply with the provisions of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (“Uniform Guidance”), which includes the return of funds for any potential instances of fraud, waste, and/or abuse associated with the program.
City officials requested emergency action to mitigate the risk of potential penalties and assure compliance with a 30-day deadline.
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Emergency action is requested to allow the financial transaction to be processed as soon as possible to mitigate risk of potential penalties from untimely action and assurance compliance with a 30-day deadline.
The ordinance was declared an emergency measure taking effect upon mayoral approval, with federal closeout instructions requiring the return to be transferred via ACH.
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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
The ordinance was declared an emergency measure taking effect upon mayoral approval, with federal closeout instructions requiring the return to be transferred via ACH.
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WHEREAS, ERA1 and ERA2 Closeout Instructions for State, Territorial, Local, and Tribal Governments to return Emergency Rental Assistance funds to the U.S. Department of Treasury requires reimbursements to the ERA1 Program be made via ACH;
Columbus City Council · 2026-08-24
Supporting evidence (2)
At its Aug. 24 meeting, Columbus City Council approved emergency legislation authorizing the expenditure of $438,813.48 to reimburse the U.S. Department of Treasury from the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund.
Read supporting passage
REGULAR MEETING NO.35 OF COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 24, 2026 at 5:00 P.M. IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
At its Aug. 24 meeting, Columbus City Council approved emergency legislation authorizing the expenditure of $438,813.48 to reimburse the U.S. Department of Treasury from the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund.
Read supporting passage
2290-2026 · To authorize the Director of Finance and Management to reimburse the U.S. Department of Treasury for ERA2 allocation; and to authorize the expenditure of $438,813.48 from the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($438,813.48) Approved ·