Having experienced its sharpest decade of growth since the ‘60s, the City of North Liberty is looking to conduct an early census in collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau.
And with good reason. According to the 2010 census, North Liberty’s population grew by 149.2 percent since 2000, making it the second-fastest growing city in the state of Iowa. More recently, the city’s population reached 17,000, up from 13,374 just five years ago.
Officials say conducting an early census will allow the city to receive additional tax revenue for things like building and maintaining roads. According to North Liberty Communications Director Nick Bergus, upon completing the early census, the city would receive an additional $280,000 per year in tax revenue.
Conducting the early census will cost the city about $300,000, according Bergus, meaning the city would recoup its costs in about two years. And given Iowa’s recent gas tax increase, Bergus says the city might be able to pay off the census even sooner.
According to Bergus, conducting a special census will require the city to hire temporary staff and work with the U.S. Census Bureau on their schedule. The bureau has yet to establish a starting date for the special census, but will post staff openings online as they become available.
