Saratoga demands a recount

The Town of Saratoga will be joining an effort to contest the results of the 2020 Census.

During the January 18 meeting of Saratoga's governing body, Mayor Creed James informed the rest of the council of an email received from Justin Schilling, member services manager of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM). According to James, Schilling reached out to member communities regarding their concerns over the 2020 Census results and if they were interested in contesting those results.

"We touched on this maybe once or twice in the past. There's a concern among numerous communities that the census totals undercounted the population," said Councilmember Jon Nelson. "I would recommend that we, if this is a letter from WAM asking if there's any other communities that feel like the count is erroneous and there needs to be a formal protest, we should offer our support in that effort and get behind WAM and other communities that want to see some sort of a reconciliation there."

Councilmember Ron Hutchins asked what the official population count for Saratoga was following the most recent census. Nelson replied that Saratoga's official population was 1,599. A recent search of the census website, however, places Saratoga's population at 1,702. 

Additionally, a press release from the State of Wyoming's Economic Analysis Division puts Saratoga's population at 1,702 following the 2020 Census.

This is an increase from the previous population of 1,690 following the 2010 Census.

"I don't know how anybody else feels, but I certainly don't feel there's less people in Saratoga than there were 10 years ago," said Nelson.

Following the 2020 Census, while Wyoming saw an increase of 2.3 percent in its population since 2010-the 7th slowest growth rate in the nation-Carbon County saw a decrease of 8.5 percent. As discussion about Saratoga's official population continued, concerns over state funding were raised. Hutchins was the first to raise the issue, citing an agreement between the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Town of Saratoga. That agreement, which was last codified by the Town of Saratoga by a resolution in 2019, provides $20 per capita each fiscal year to towns between 1,500 and 5,000 for the maintenance of state highways within the municipalities corporate limits.

"Almost all of our discretions from the state, aside from the 6th penny, is based on population," Nelson replied. "Having an undercount has a dramatic impact on what we receive." 

According to James, as he read from the email, the Town of Elk Mountain planned to contest the 2020 Census results. While Elk Mountain had a population of 191 following the 2010 Census, the most recent results placed their population at 150. 

"The Town of Shoshoni also responded to that email, said that they did protest immediately upon initial publication of the census and had a call with the regional office out of Texas," said James. "'In short, they knew there were major issues in the smaller communities-which is most of Wyoming-but they do not have a plan or mechanism to correct it and your population count will stand as official. Each community may, at their own expense, order an additional mid-decade recount and submit that for revision of the official population'."

The town council voted unanimously to join the list of municipalities interested in contesting the 2020 Census results.

The next meeting of the Saratoga Town Council will be at 6 p.m. on February 1 at Saratoga Town Hall.