Newstrack: Robins completes special census count

BACKGROUND

The Robins City Council last summer embarked on a special census count to get a new tally on the growing community's population.

Robins, located just north of Hiawatha and connected to the larger Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area, had 3,142 residents, according to 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data.

However, city officials suspected the population had grown enough to warrant a special census, which comes with a cost but could provide the community with added revenue from state tax sources distributed on a per-capita basis.

The communities of North Liberty and Marion also have conducted special census counts.

Robins census workers began taking official population counts in July.

WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE

Last Monday, the Robins City Council certified the special census count, which also has been sent to the Iowa Secretary of State.

Lori Pickart, Robins city clerk and treasurer, said the special census, which took about two weeks to complete, counted 3,442 total residents - an increase of 300 people.

'It went really smooth,” Pickart said of the process. 'I didn't hear of any problems.”

Pickart said the special census cost about $81,000 to conduct, but the updated population count will provide the city with about $301,000 additional funds in road-use tax and local-option sales tax dollars.

Marion's partial special census, which focused on a portion of the community, counted an additional 2,800 people - which will provide the city about $2.6 million in additional tax revenue until the 2020 census.

North Liberty's special census found the city's population to be more than 18,200, marking a 36 percent increase from the 2010 census count of about 13,400.

The special census cost about $280,000, but North Liberty officials estimate the new count will provide $500,000 more each fiscal year for road maintenance and construction.