Make wishtv.com your home page

Fishers considers special U.S. Census to increase funds

FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) – Fishers leaders are looking to take advantage of increased growth by conducting a study that they hope will generate extra money.

Many new homes in Fishers have been built over the past few years. But if new residents aren’t counted correctly, communities could miss out on money.

This is why Fishers City Council will consider spending nearly $400,000 on a U.S. Census study.

“I think that’s a great idea,” Fishers resident Jill Young said. “That’s just part of their wise planning for the future because there’s been a lot of planning going into the growth of Fishers all along since I came here 25 years ago.”

“The world says that you have to spend money to make money,” Fishers resident Darrin Loyd said.

City leaders say they want to take a look at how many people are now living in certain parts of the city. Early estimates show it could generate a lot of money.

If there was no study, city officials say about $22 million would be collected from 2017 until 2021. But their estimates show new figures could increase the revenue number to more than $24 million.

If that’s the case, once you subtract the money for the study, the city could generate an extra $1.5 million, which leaders say could go to fix roads, public safety and other projects.

While the dollars are nice, neighbors are surprised to see their city grow so fast.

“That feeling of small-time, small-town America, you lose that,” Loyd said.

“From 25 years ago, it’s much different,” Young said.

The study won’t look at the entire city. Officials want census workers to concentrate on areas where development is the greatest to keep the study cost down.

City council will take this up at Monday’s meeting. If passed, U.S. Census officials say it’ll be upwards of ten months before it’s completed.