While Census Day doesn’t take place until April 1, 2020, Green River municipal officials are quietly preparing to take an accurate count of city residents.
The city has formed a committee to initiate the census campaign and is receiving assistance from census workers in Denver to ensure the process is both smooth and provides and accurate resident count.
The census is taken every 10 years and according to Communications Administrator Amanda Cavaz, plays a role in the sales-tax distribution the city receives from the state. Sales tax is the primary finding source for municipal governments in Wyoming and a decrease or increase in population can impact its share of sales tax. In 2010, despite showing an increase in population over 2000’s census, Green River lost approximately $1 million in revenue a year. This was because Rock Springs’ growth, fueled by the a booming natural gas economy, grew at a much larger pace than Green River.
Cavaz said sales tax is especially important for communities in Wyoming because it is a low-tax state. However, Cavaz said the census also plays a role in creating demographic data used to apply for and administer grants, which are also an important source of funding in Wyoming.
“Those demographics are important to us,” she said.
One demographic examined in the census is the median household income level and the poverty level, which can be used in situations involving low-income assistance grants. Beyond that, Cavaz says the census also provides data important for economic development purposes. A business seeking to expand into the city can get a quick snapshot of the city. Cavaz said an accurate count of resident numbers can help spur economic interest in the city. Likewise, she said an inaccurate, underreported count may cause companies to look elsewhere for expansion opportunities.
While Census Day is April 1, 2020, Cavaz said people can report starting March 23, 2020 and can do so over the phone, a mailed questionnaire or through the internet.
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