Franklin County Auditor Replaces Real Estate Title form DTE-100

Franklin County, Ohio Auditor Michael Stinziano has replaced the manually-filled real estate title form DTE 100 with a new electronic format as part of his commitment to creating a modern, efficient and accountable office.

The new form replaces one that previously had to be filled out in triplicates by hand, a process that was burdensome for those in the real estate industry who had to use it. The DTE-100 is also known as the Real Property Conveyance Fee Statement of Value and Receipt form.

“I am excited to unveil this new, interactive form, which will eliminate bureaucracy and make the filing process much more efficient for title companies and anyone who uses the DTE-100 form. We will continue to look for new ideas and innovations that will bring the Auditor’s office into the 21st century,” Stinziano said.

The Auditor’s office will offer in-office support where residents can come and both fill and file these forms directly.

Kevin Alexander, President of Search 2 Close, praised the step saying “Increased efficiency in the title and transfer process is important not only to companies like ours, but to every day residents looking to transfer property more efficiently. I commend Auditor Stinziano for working so quickly to modernize the system.”

Over 50,000 DTE 100 forms are processed annually.

Columbus City Council approves $2.6m food access funds for children

Columbus City Council has passed three pieces of legislation providing more than $2.6 million in funds to improve food access for Columbus children and their families.

President Pro Tem Elizabeth Brown, with the unanimous support of City Council, sponsored ordinances 0976-2019, 1239-2019 and 1240-2019 to support the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks, Department Summer Food Program, and to create new partnerships with the Children’s Hunger Alliance and the Family Mentor Foundation to provide nutritious meals.

The issue of food insecurity for children in the community is especially profound during the summer months and on weekends when free and reduced-price meals are not available at school.

Just 10 percent of children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals have access to summer meals.

”Children’s growth and development do not end when school is not in session, and neither does their need for nutritious food,” said Brown.

“That is why these programs are so important to the health and success of our children.”

Each year, the Department of Recreation and Parks administers a summer food program that offers free meals at various locations and recreation centers in the City.

In 2018, more than 630,000 meals were served at 240 locations. This year, the City will supplement that work by partnering with the Children’s Hunger Alliance to pilot four open summer meal sites. An open site provides free meals to anyone in the community who is under 18. City Council is providing funding for these programs through ordinances 0976-2019 and 1239-2019.

This work is an important component of the Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Action Plan, a community planning effort to create a stronger, more sustainable local food system. Councilmember Priscilla Tyson led the launch of the Food Action Plan in 2014.

“The legislation that passed on Monday supports the primary goal of the Food Plan which is ensuring access to food for Columbus residents,” said Councilmember Priscilla Tyson. “Moreover, the programs that will be funded play a critical role in providing food to youth that may go hungry; because they do not have a reliable source of food during the summer months and on the weekends.”

The final ordinance, 1240-2019, authorizes a grant agreement with the Family Mentor Foundation in support of the organization’s Buddy Boxes program.

Through the program, Buddy Boxes are distributed to Franklin County preschool, elementary, and middle school-age children to provide nutritious food over the weekend and during the summer.

In the 2018-2019 program year, the Family Mentor Foundation provided 32,220 Buddy Boxes to more than 895 students.  The support from City Council will allow the Family Mentor Foundation to expand services to additional schools and students and to create efficiencies that will reduce the cost of each box by 37.5%.

“We are committed to ensuring that all of our kids have the opportunity to live healthy lives,” said Brown. “Summer food programs are a vital part to that goal.”