Alderman Mike Wall urges White House residents to complete 2025 special census to secure funding

Alderman Mike Wall urged residents of the City of White House on Wednesday to complete the 2025 special census online, saying the count could unlock significant state funding for local services.

"For every person counted, city of White House receives approximately $175 per year from the state of Tennessee," Wall said, adding that when the amounts are aggregated across the population the total could reach "approximately $875,000 per year." He said the money would help pay for "street repairs, public safety, parks, sidewalks, and other infrastructure" without raising local taxes.

Wall told residents they should watch for an official letter from the U.S. Census Bureau that will include a unique code and instructions to complete the census online. "If you don't complete your census online by August 22nd, a census worker will come to your door to follow up," he said, urging online responses to "avoid that and save time and resources."

City officials, represented in this message by Wall, framed the special count as a short-term effort with long-term budget consequences: a brief online response now could affect revenue streams that support infrastructure and public-safety budgets for multiple years. Wall emphasized the census takes only a few minutes but that its results "last for years."

The alderman closed by encouraging residents to participate so the city can "make smart investments without overburdening our residents." No formal vote or municipal action was announced during the remarks; the speech functioned as an informational appeal to residents to complete the special census.