Chandler, Gilbert, Peoria extend special census

• Count completed in Buckeye, Queen Creek

A special census count has been extended in Chandler, Gilbert and Peoria in order to complete updated population counts that could result in millions more in state shared revenue for all three communities.

The three municipalities were among seven Arizona cities and towns that paid to have the U.S. Census Bureau conduct an updated census count this fall, in the belief their populations have significantly increased since the last regular census in 2010.

Each year, Arizona municipalities collect a share of state revenue based on population. A higher population means a greater share of the revenue pie, and all seven don't want to wait until after the 2020 census to start collecting more.

The special census count, which began in early October, has been completed or is close to wrapping up in Buckeye, Goodyear, Maricopa and Queen Creek, said Mark Hellfritz, area manager for the U.S. Census Bureau, who is overseeing the special count.

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The count is expected to be completed by the end of this week in Chandler, Gilbert and Peoria. Census officials initially expected to complete the counts in all cities before Thanksgiving.

"We have to go until we have a completed count. We have to finish the work in the field,'' he said. "I'd like to be finished in the first week of December.''

Overall, responses have been good in all cities, he said, but there remain significant areas where work will need to be concentrated in coming weeks, such as large apartment complexes or senior care facilities.

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The bureau hopes to have the updated counts compiled and verified by March, prior to adoption of the state's 2016-17 budget.

In the months leading up to the census, cities hired hundreds of workers, among them Spanish speakers, to go door to door and count their populations. As the count has continued, they have continued their outreach in an effort to encourage residents to respond.

An estimated 90 percent of the population has been counted in Chandler, according to Jim Phipps, a city spokesman.

The city's outreach has included using Mayor Jay Tibshraeny's image as part of a publicity campaign to encourage residents to vote. Fliers with the mayoral promotion were recently placed at doors of residents who have not yet responded, Phipps said.

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“After they started attaching that to the notice, the return calls improved dramatically,'' he said, adding that uncounted residents can call 480-782-3269 to provide information beginning Nov. 30.

The city's population in 2010 was 236,697, and officials estimate it now is more than 249,000. The increase could mean anywhere from  $14 million to $20 million more over the next five years combined. The city allocated about $4 million to pay for the census count. Phipps said the city will not have to allocate more to account for the additional weeks of counting.

Gilbert, which also allocated about $4 million for the census, estimates its population has increased by about 30,000 residents since the 2010 count, which then tallied 208,000 living in the town, said Justine Bruno,  town management and budget and analyst. Gilbert estimates its share of increased state revenue could be between $15 million and $20 million over the next five years.

“When you do an operation this size, it's expected there would be some bumps,'' she said. "But all in all, the feedback we’ve had of citizen interaction with (census) enumerators has been positive.’’

Gilbert's outreach has included inserts in utility bills and promotions on the local city cable channel and in movie theaters.

Peoria, like the other communities, has been conducting outreach for months to encourage residents to respond to the census.

Deputy City Manager Julie Ayers said the city estimates its population has increased from 154,000 in 2010 to 163,000. Peoria allocated $3.2 million for the count. The city estimates more than $5 million in additional state revenue over the next five years from the updated count, which more than offsets the cost of the census.

Buckeye officials say early indications from the completed count suggest the city's population has increased from 51,000 in 2010 to 61,000, which could mean an additional $1.5 million a year in state revenue over the next five years.