LOCAL - Special Census Says Bloomingon Is Growing

Bloomington Is Even Bigger By M.K. Guetersloh mkguetersloh@pantagraph.com BLOOMINGTON - Full Story Click Here: More people are coming to Bloomington, and the results of a special census may show the city's population is growing faster than city officials estimated. City Manager Tom Hamilton told the City Council during its budget work session this week that a preliminary count from a special census conducted in Bloomington is "significantly higher than anticipated. "The city paid $133,232 for the U.S. Census Bureau to conduct the special census, but officials hope to recoup more than that through higher population-based revenue from the state and federal governments. Bloomington's population listed in the 2000 Census was 64,808. When the City Council approved the study, the estimated population growth was about 7,000 people. Hamilton would not comment further on the preliminary estimate from the Census Bureau because he said the numbers could change when the city receives its final count. City Finance Director Brian Barnes said the special census concluded the first week of March. A final count from the Census Bureau is expected about 90 days after the count is completed. An increase of 7,000 people could yield an additional $700,000 for city coffers.The city receives some state and federal money on a per-capita basis. Right now that rate is about $111 per person. The special census in Bloomington started in February and concentrated on about 154 new subdivisions, mostly on the city's east side. The town of Normal completed a special census in 2005, and its population grew more than town officials estimated. Once the Census Bureau certified the count, Normal had grown by 5,100 people to a population of 50,485. Town officials had estimated the town grew by only 3,000 people in the five years since the 2000 Census.