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A special census for the city of Westfield that was put on hold earlier this year due to a federal hiring freeze will resume in September, the city announced Thursday.
Westfield officials are seeking the special census to determine the number of people living in the fast-growing Hamilton County city and ensure the community receives adequate funding and resources. The city’s population is estimated to have increased since 2020, from 46,000 to nearly 63,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
In September, members of the Westfield City Council voted to appropriate $1.8 million for the U.S. Census Bureau to conduct a special census this spring. City officials said knowing how many people live in Westfield would allow the city to gain additional tax dollars. The increase in tax revenue would help pay off the census within two years of its completion.
However, on the day President Donald Trump took office, he signed an order freezing the hiring of federal employees, which prevented Westfield’s census, scheduled to begin May 1, from taking place.
On Thursday, the city announced that an exemption waiver secured by Indiana’s U.S. Sens. Todd Young and Jim Banks and U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Noblesville, will allow the Census Bureau to move forward with the process.
“Westfield has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, and waiting for the 2030 decennial census would delay vital resources that our city needs,” Mayor Scott Willis said in a written statement. “Certain tax distributions and permits, which are allocated based on population, are essential to supporting infrastructure and public services. By conducting this special census now, we’re ensuring that our city gets the representation and revenue it should.”
According to the city, the special census is estimated to generate $1.6 million in additional annual revenue for the city for the next five years.
The U.S. Census Bureau will begin hiring temporary workers to assist with the special census.
Census workers are scheduled to begin work in mid-September, and an internet self-respond period will begin in August.
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LOL. Hamilton County voters and elected officials want cuts in Federal and State government spending…except when they want something from Uncle Sam.
Population growth from 46,000 to nearly 63,000 in five years is impressive. New housing developments are popping up like mushrooms, but it seems there’s little room left for commercial contributions to the tax base.