Feature photo by Noah McLane
Story by Noah McLane
The City of Murfreesboro announced last Monday that it is conducting a special census through February in an effort to procure what the council calls “our fair share of state-shared tax dollars.”
City officials believe Murfreesboro’s population has grown significantly since the last federal census was conducted in 2020. To receive additional shared funding, Murfreesboro must establish an accurate population count, according to the special census website.
“[The money] would go toward our fire department, parks and rec, sidewalks, all that kind of stuff that betters the city while keeping tax cost low,” project coordinator Malia Grubbs said. “It’s funds that are already allocated [for city governments], but is divided up per your population.”
If the special census shows that Murfreesboro exceeded its 2020 population, the city’s budget could grow by as much as 3.5 million yearly, Grubbs told Sidelines.
“[Municipalities] get $175 per person, and we’re estimating that we’ve probably grown at least 20,000,” Grubbs said. This number includes MTSU’s growing student population.
The census form requires the first and last names of all Murfreesboro residents along with their physical addresses, and the information will be kept strictly confidential, according to the FAQ page.
Electronic forms are available at www.murfreesborocensus.com. Paper forms are available at City Hall and will also be mailed out in November.
“I want to make sure that everybody knows how short and simple it is. It will take a minute and a half to two minutes to fill it out…it’s very, very simple,” said Grubbs.
She also added that residents who fill out the form online are entered into three drawings for a $100 gift card.
Noah McLane is the lead news reporter for MTSU Sidelines.
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