Down for the count

Despite efforts from city staff to dispute the results of the 2020 national census, it seems that Sundance is stuck with a population count that officials don't believe is correct.

"I don't think we're going to get the change," said Clerk Treasurer Kathy Lenz.

The U.S. Census Bureau announced last year that Sundance had seen a significant reduction from 1182 to 1032 citizens between the years of 2010 and 2019 – a decline of 150 people, or 12.7%.

"It's very disheartening that they think we have lost people," said Lenz when she first raised the issue with the city council in September, suggesting that it might be worth trying to dispute the results.

Mayor Paul Brooks also questioned the validity of the results, considering how many of Sundance's homes are currently occupied and how many buildings have recently been added.

The council authorized Lenz and her staff to see if it might be possible to correct the count. As Brooks stated on Tuesday, it's important that the number be accurate because an error can have a big impact on the city budget.

State distribution of funds allots $769 per person, he said. A decline of 150 people therefore represents $115,350 in lost state funding.

According to Lenz, Shoshone has also been fighting the census results and has been told that, in a few years, it can do its own gathering of data for a mid-decade recount. Other than that, Lenz said, it's only possible to contest the results if the boundaries are incorrect – which, in this case, they are not.

With no other options or loopholes available, said Lenz, Sundance is stuck with its lower numbers for the time being.