Utah Cities Say Census Estimates Too Low

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Utah cities and counties are lining up to challenge the latest population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. State demographer Juliette Tennert (TENN-urt) says the Census Bureau uses methods that don't reflect the reality of many Utah cities.

For example, Tennert says population estimates are based in part on tax return data, which misses many college students who live in Utah but don't have jobs. That's one reason college towns like Provo pop up on the list of Utah cities challenging the estimates almost every year. At least four Utah cities and all of Cache County may challenge the most recent census estimates. Tennert says accurate estimates are important, so cities get their fair share of federal transportation and tax dollars.

Last year ten Utah cities were successful in convincing the Census Bureau to boost their official population estimates. State officials had considered launching a statewide challenge to the census estimate, but Tennert says that plan is on hold.

The U.S. Census Bureau places Utah's population around 2.55 million. Utah's Population Estimates Committee believes it's closer to 2.6 million.

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