Palatine conducts special census

Palatine is banking on an influx of downtown housing adding to village coffers.

A special census is under way, which could mean nearly $200,000 in additional state funding.

Palatine's official population currently stands at 65,479. Since April 2000, 847 housing units have been constructed in the downtown sector, bringing in up to 1,500 residents.

The village receives about $130 per person from state income and motor fuel taxes, said Assistant Village Manager Sam Trakas. If census workers count even 1,400 additional residents, Palatine's 2009 budget could grow by more than $180,000.

"The new population is submitted to Congress and the funds adjusted accordingly," said Toni Pitchford, a spokeswoman with the Chicago regional office of the U.S. Census Bureau. "Sanitation, road care, sewers, education and other programs would benefit."

The adjusted funding would also help to offset a recent decline in revenue, which Trakas attributes to difficult economic times.

Councilmen gave the special census - and its $100,000 price tag - the go-ahead several months ago.

Beginning this weekend, enumerators will knock on the doors of downtown residences to take stock of the number of household members, income, mortgages and other basic stats. The process could take up to two months.

Palatine last conducted a special census in 1996 and another might not be needed for awhile since the village is nearly built out.

Few vacant pockets remain of land large enough to accommodate new multifamily housing. Most construction is now limited to small groups of condos or townhouses or building two homes on double lot.

Based on housing development trends and density, the village won't grow beyond 75,000 residents, said Trakas.

Several area towns, including Lake Zurich, Naperville, Pingree Grove, Huntley and Lincolnshire are also conducting special censuses. The special census program will shut down at the end of the year to turn efforts to the big 2010 census.s