Wheeling board approves partial special census; OKs routine contracts and services

The Wheeling Village Board on Jan. 6 approved a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Census Bureau to conduct a partial special census covering about 12% of the village, and passed a consent agenda renewing several contracts and subscriptions, officials said.

The board voted to authorize the special census, which will target newer multifamily developments the village identified — including apartments at Wheeling Town Center, Union Apartments, London Crossing and The Landings — and aims to capture population growth before the 2030 decennial census. "The village staff estimates the village could receive over $1,800,000 from 2026 through 2030 if the special census is successful," Mr. Smith said while explaining the proposal. The village will pay an estimated $540,000 up front; that amount will be adjusted ("trued up") when the Census Bureau finishes the count and issues a final invoice or refund.

The village said the special census is intended to update state per-capita revenue calculations for income tax, motor fuel tax, use tax and cannabis use tax. Staff told trustees that when the 2020 census counted 4,848 residents in the areas proposed for recount, those…