Oswego is cutting a hefty check to Uncle Sam in hopes that a fresh headcount will prove what locals already suspect: the village has quietly crossed the 40,000-resident line and is leaving money on the table.
This month, village trustees signed off on an agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau for a mid-decade special census that leaders say could unlock millions in extra state-shared revenue. The move follows years of preparation and comes with a sizable upfront bill the village must pay before federal number-crunchers even get started. If everything stays on schedule, officials say the special count could roll out as early as spring 2027.
At the June 9 board meeting, trustees approved the memorandum and payment terms, according to Shaw Local. Village finance director Andrea Lamberg told trustees the municipality estimates it has added about 5,553 residents since 2020, a roughly 16 percent jump that would put the official tally near 40,138. To get the process going, Oswego must advance about $977,448 to the Census Bureau before fieldwork begins, with Lamberg’s memo noting that the payment will later be reconciled to the bureau’s actual costs.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 official count pegged Oswego’s population at 34,585 residents as of April 1, 2020, according to U.S. Census QuickFacts. More recent bureau estimates place the village closer to the 38,700 to 39,000 range. Local officials say that gap between estimates and a certified number is exactly why Oswego is willing to front nearly $1 million for a formal special census.
What Officials Say The Bump Will Fund
Village leaders are betting the investment will pay off. Projections show roughly $1.5 million in additional revenue each year, or about $4.5 million over three years, if the higher population is certified, according to figures provided to local reporters. Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman has said the extra dollars would help underwrite big-ticket projects, specifically improvements at the Wolfs Crossing and U.S. Route 30 intersection and work to bring Lake Michigan water to the village, according to Shaw Local.
How The Special Census Works
The Census Bureau’s Special Census Program relies on an internet self-response system supported by mailed invitations and reminders, then issues official population and housing counts once the work is certified, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Local reporting notes that residents in recently developed neighborhoods should begin receiving letters in late July that direct them to respond online, according to the Chicago Tribune. The bureau provides a cost estimate and requires a signed agreement before fieldwork starts, and the sponsoring community reimburses the bureau for the work.
Neighbors Already Saw A Payoff
Oswego is not blazing this trail alone. Nearby Plainfield wrapped up a special census last year that boosted its official population to 49,962 and is expected to increase the village’s annual revenue by roughly $1.2 million, according to the Village of Plainfield’s announcement. Aurora, which has also pursued a special count, has been publicly coordinating with the Census Bureau and posting hiring notices for field staff as it prepares for a mid-decade enumeration, per the city’s special census page.
What Happens Next
With the board vote in the books, village staff must now submit the signed agreement and advance payment so the Census Bureau can finalize the scope and schedule of the work. Local reports note that the advance will be adjusted to reflect actual costs, with either additional billings or refunds to follow, according to the Chicago Tribune. Residents in new subdivisions are being told to watch for official mail from the Census Bureau, along with village notices about when the online self-response portal opens and when enumerators will be out in the field.
