Photo: Motortion / iStock / Getty Images
(West Des Moines, IA) -- Some West Des Moines residents will have a chance to take part in a special Census count beginning at the end of the month, which is expected to bring in over $6 million for roadwork and community projects.
"For road use tax, that we would get about 5.6 million dollars within the next five years, with the loft funding and the way that they appropriate dollars we are estmating 600-thousand in the next five years," said Laura Reveles of the City of West Des Moines.
The City of West Des Moines believes it has grown by 12 percent in the last five years. If the city has grown enough, it will be awarded money for community improvement projects and funding for amenities.
"To improve our roads, to improve our trails and pay for these ammenities. It's a huge benefit especially because we are heavily reliant on property taxes as our primary source of funding so this is to help increase those other dollars," said Reveles.
She says targeted neighborhoods will soon receive mailers with instructions on how to fill out the Census forms online. The special Census was delayed this year due to a federal hiring freeze.
The Census will only be taken in areas of growth, and residents there are encouraged to participate online later this month. The city is also looking to hire Census takers who will go door-to-door later this summer.