Maricopa seeks special census to boost population stats

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The Maricopa City Council approved an agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau to purchase a special census.

Proving the city has had a population growth since the 2010 Census would increase state-shared revenue allocation, according to Intergovernmental Affairs Director Paul Jepson.

The cost of a special census would be $297,490 to be paid to the U.S. Census Bureau and $473,325 to pay census workers. There is an additional $40,000 to $60,000 in estimated operational costs.

However, the anticipated results would offer the city $326 per new resident since the 2010 census. With the population estimated to have grown by more than 7,000 people, the city could receive as high as $2.3 million per year, or $11.6 million over five years.

The council showed some initial concern, but as the numbers were broken down further, it seemed to become clear the money upfront would be worth it in the end.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but if we do nothing, we’ll lose about $1.9 million,” Councilmember Vincent Manfredi said. “If we just increase by 550 people, we would pay for this. I don’t see a reason not to do it.”

A special census offers a much higher payout for the city. If the city were to decide not to do one, the numbers would stay based on the 43,000 population mark from the 2010 Census. The city is hoping to reach a population of 50,000 with a special census. It would both raise the attraction and prestige of the area, Mayor Christian Price said.

“I’d hate to part ways with that money (referring to the $297,490 upfront cost), but I cannot in good conscience leave $10 million on the table,” Price said. “ I’d have to say that doing nothing is a far greater risk in my opinion. The available slots to do this are filling up quick, and we have one narrow chance to be one of those cities.”

He said the 50,000 mark has business implications. When networking with organizations like the International Council of Shopping Centers, he said, businesses are surprised to learn Maricopa’s official population is around 45,000. Some corporations the city wants to recruit will only show interest when the population reaches at least 50,000.

The council unanimously approved the memorandum of agreement. If accepted by the Census Bureau, the city will announce to the public what the census timeframe will be.

In other business:

• Maricopa Police Chief Steve Stahl regarding the need for funding to move forward with a plan to clean up the Heritage District. The city will request a Community Development Block Grant for the police department and a State Special Projects Grant for the same areas community and housing development needs.

• The council also unanimously approved the contract extension of Judge Tresa Georgini to remain the presiding judge of Maricopa’s municipal court, and to offer city manager Gregory Rose a raise in salary based on outstanding performance.

• Mayor Price declared April 12-18 to be the Week of the Young Child to raise awareness and celebrate various organizations providing constructive environments for young children to better develop. “All young children and their families in the state of Arizona and the city of Maricopa deserve access to high quality early childhood education,” Price announced. “Teachers and others who make a difference in the lives of young children and their families in the city of Maricopa deserve thanks and recognition. Therefore I, Christian Price, Mayor of the city of Maricopa, do here by declare April 12th through the 18th, 2015 as the Week of the Young Child, and encourage all citizens to work together and make good investments in early childhood.”

• The mayor also declared April 13-24 to be Paint the City Purple Days. This is an activity developed by the American Cancer Society that promotes awareness and raises money to give individuals an opportunity to fight back against cancer.

• The council announced Nevada had broken ground on their portion of Interstate 11. The mayor reassured the community that he and the council are doing everything in their power not to fall behind and to make sure the highway goes through Maricopa’s planning area. However, the project requires transportation funding, and any transportation money is difficult to come by at this time.