The Village of Plainfield is spending money now so it can get more funds in the future.
The Plainfield Village Board Monday approved a memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau to conduct a full special census.
Ashton Stipp, management analyst for the village, said the 2020 census reported the population of Plainfield as of April 1, 2020, as 44,762 residents.
But due to extensive residential development. Stipp said the village has had an influx of new residents since the 2020 census.
“As one of the fastest growing communities in the State of Illinois, staff would like to capture the latest population through a full special census enumeration,” said Stipp.
Based on the census estimation formula, the village estimates the population increase is approximately 10.09 percent with 4,516 new residents since the last census was conducted in 2020. The estimation, according to Stipp, was made by multiplying the village’s new utility counts (1,407) by the average household population of the 2020 census, which was 3.21.
“Due to updated census bureau’s current policies and procedures, the village is not eligible for a partial special census because no single census tract lies completely and solely within the village’s boundaries,” he added.
According to the Illinois Municipal League’s latest report, the estimated revenue per capita for Illinois is $258.35. Staff, according to Stipp, estimates an additional $1,166,708.60 of annual funding revenue based on the net population increase of 4,516.
The cost to conduct a village-wide special census is $873,530. Stipp said the village has allocated $1 million toward this expenditure in the proposed 2024-2025 budget.
The village is tentatively scheduled to start the special census on April 15, 2025, which, according to Stipp, could take up to three months to complete. The U.S. Census Bureau then takes up to one year to certify the results, and the Illinois Department of Revenue will update the allocations within two months of receiving the new certified population.
Village trustee Cally Larson said the expenditure is beneficial to the community.
“It is such a substantial return,” she said.
Mayor John Argoudelis said it does not make sense to wait until the 2030 census to get a proper count as it will take longer to receive additional funds. Stipp said the 2020 census was certified in October of the following year and the 2030 census will not be certified for at least one year, meaning there is a delay for communities to receive funds.