Bartlett seeks accurate count of new residents

Bartlett officials want to make sure they have an accurate count of people annexed at the end of last year, so they are doing sort of a mini-special census to update the suburb's population figures. Not a citywide one; just a count in the five areas absorbed in recent annexations.

The desire for accuracy is due to state-shared revenues being distributed on a per-person basis. The state pays municipalities about $106 per resident.

"The whole idea is to get our proper share to keep our property taxes down," said Terry Emerick, the suburb's planning and economic development director.

Bartlett annexed five sections in December. One is the city's future Blue Lagoon Park and has no residents. The other four sections are two pockets adjacent to the suburb's western border and the Hatch Lane/Eagles Nest area to the north. The most significant area is to the east and south of the CSX railroad crossing in the Brunswick community.

In planning the services, city planners estimated 2,300 people lived in the annexation areas based on the 2010 U.S. Census. Emerick said the new census could mean more than the estimate since about 30 to 40 new homes were built in the subdivisions to the east over the last two years.

"Obviously, every one we get helps with the tax burden," Mayor Keith McDonald said.

City officials sent letters to the recently annexed areas earlier this month with a return envelope. The census form sought only the first and last names of all the people living at the address and not any demographic information. Emerick said they will mail out a second letter to those who haven't responded. The last step is to go door-to-door in hopes of completing the count.

The city must submit the results to the state for verification by March 1. If the state determines the count to be accurate, the suburb's population, and the resulting state-shared revenues, will be adjusted in June.