Woodstock special census moves forward

Gregory Harutunian
The population total is anticipated to change for the city of Woodstock, following a special census being prepared to step off Sept. 1, as a precursor to “home-rule” designation. (Photo by Gregory Harutunian/for Chronicle Media)

The population total is anticipated to change for the city of Woodstock, following a special census being prepared to step off Sept. 1, as a precursor to “home-rule” designation. (Photo by Gregory Harutunian/for Chronicle Media)

Plans for the city of Woodstock to verify its increased population and possible leap toward becoming an automatic “home-rule” community is tentatively set to begin Sept. 1, when enumerators will canvass residential and new construction areas within the municipality. City officials are seeking the designation as a gateway toward “true self-governance” at the local level.

Woodstock’s population total, as of the last tabulation, was pegged at 24,880. The special census hopes to include an additional 650-700 residents, based on construction permits for residential sites, since the last survey conducted in 2010 population. The city is in the process of hiring enumerators, crew leaders, and clerk positions to be concluded July 15.

“This is a stipulation of our contract with the U. S. Census Bureau, in which the city will hire local people to conduct the survey,” said Woodstock’s economic development director Garrett Anderson. “New taxes have not been discussed by the city council, and it is not the driver for this effort. It’s to allow the city to self-govern, and do so, in a manner that is beneficial to the city.”

Enacted in 1970, state law specifies that Illinois municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more, receive a “home-rule” status that creates a local taxing authority and removes many ties to state-mandated limitations regarding the initiation of municipal programs. It also allows an exemption on the annual levy amount above the property tax cap of 5 percent, or the fixed rate of inflation.

“When you have a city that’s under the population threshold, and in this case 25,000 is that number, the state imposes restrictive guidelines that must be followed,” Anderson said. “An increased population number gets the status and shows you are a big city with the ability to self-govern, and tailor programs without the state limitations.”

The contract for the special census with the federal adjunct agency is $90,000. Approximately $20,000 is a “set aside,” Anderson said, to incorporate the expenses for wages paid to local workers, and incidental costs. “We’re looking to hire 12 people that will actually conduct the canvassing, at a decent wage for part-time employment, by July 31.

“In Aug, they will receive training from the U. S. Census Bureau representatives, and then, hit the streets Sept. 1 to get the numbers. We’re confident that the numbers will bear out a population increase,” he said. Figures obtained through the survey are subject to certification by the federal bureau, prior to full acceptance.

Woodstock officials considered the prospect of a special census in early 2015, as a response to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed 50 percent cut to the local government distributive fund (LGDF), and the 8 per cent share of the collected state income tax calculated on a per capita baseline. A certified increase in population would also raise the municipality’s revenue share.

The city’s fiscal year runs from April 1 through May 31, and a line item disbursement was figured into the last two annual budgets in order to fund the special census. An anticipated increase over the population 25,000 threshold would eventually translate to more opportunities at the state level for funding considerations, such as the revenue-sharing LGDF amount.

The state of Illinois reimburses nearly $151.40 annually to municipalities for each resident, and could mean an additional $100,000 each year for Woodstock. City Manager Roscoe Stelford had said that perceptions of a “home- rule” status equating to tax enhancement vehicle were incorrect, since elected officials also live in the community and the main consideration was “local representation.”

“There are certain programs such as licensing rental properties to meet and comply with city codes that can be instituted,” said Anderson. “The city’s bond rating would all take an upturn, reducing interest percentages on monies that are borrowed. Bonds that are presently being paid would be eligible for refinancing at a lower rate.

“This is an opportunity for local control on local issues, and true self-governance.”