Council approved 10 questions that will be asked to Rocky View County residents during a municipal census in May, March 26.
While approving the base budget last December, council approved funding a $100,000 census.
The hope is to determine an accurate count of how many people live in the county, said Reeve Rolly Ashdown in a previous interview.
He said a lot of grants are determined through per capita funding.
A federal census was conducted in 2011 but numbers don’t match staff estimates of 38,273 residents with a difference of 1,812 people.
Up until the most recent 2011 federal census, the Province was using the County’s 2006 municipal census population numbers to determine population-based grant funding.
As well, staff and council are hoping the census results will reveal more information from residents about needs for fire services, roads, utilities and recreation.
The questions were created in consultation with all County departments, explained Karen Jiang, public information officer for the County when she presented to council.
Questions that pertain to the age and gender of the residents living at each house are essential in any census, said Jiang.
She said it will also give staff an idea of how may people are using schools, recreation centres and senior attractions.
She said asking about people’s employment status and location will lend insight to labour resources and potential volunteerism in the County.
Jiang said asking where a person works and if they work from home will offer information on local and regional transportation planning. She also noted asking if a person is a Canadian citizen gives staff information on voter eligibility.
Other questions include asking if people have access to high-speed internet in the home and if a household in question made at least $10,000 in gross income from the sales of agricultural products in 2012.
The census will not collect individual’s names.
Census workers will begin pounding the pavement May 1. As well, the County is working with the City of Airdrie to provide an online census option.
This will be the first time the County has conducted a municipal census since 2006. Numbers from the May census are expected to be released in the first week of June with a more comprehensive set of results to be available this August.
