Special Census could bring towns more state revenue

Residents in several towns in Tennessee have just a few more days to make sure their family is counted in a special census. According to today's Daily News Journal, every additional person counted would generate more revenue for city governments to spend toward services like police and fire protection.

Each person counted in a special census generates $111 in state-shared revenue from the state's Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD), according to figures from the University of Tennessee's Municipal Technical Advisory Service. Money gained from the special census is provided to a local government's general fund each year until the next census takes place. Cities look at the special census as a way to help gain needed revenue without having to hike property taxes on exisiting residents.

I did a quick search and found several cities have an easy online form you can fill out. If you live in one of the cities listed below, the linked form takes less than a minute to fill out. If you know of others, drop the link in comments and I'll add them.

• Atoka
• Franklin
• La Vergne
• Lebanon
• Munford
• Murfreesboro
• Mt. Juliet
• Smyrna
• Thompson Station
• White House

Area bloggers can help their communities by sharing this information with their readers. Both blogs This Is Smyrna and This Is La Vergne have been doing a great job alerting their readers since the special census began.

The City of La Vergne puts in plain terms what the special census means for their exploding population. The deadline for cities to turn in their final special census numbers to the state is May 15.

The additional revenues we will receive from the state helps us maintain the lowest property tax rate in Rutherford County and to provide much needed services such as police protection. These revenues are based upon the certified population. It is estimated with an accurate and thorough census, the City will receive an additional $400,000 per year, in state funds. Each state tax dollar returned to the City of La Vergne reduces the tax burden that our local residents must bear.

More from local blogs:

• Have You Pinged the LaV Population Radar? - This Is La Vergne
• To the City of LaVergne Tn… - Drama Llama