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Columbia City Council Greenlights Special Census for Lucrative Revenue Boost

Issue #024

12 Mar

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

📆 Mega List of Upcoming Events!

☀️ Columbia Weather - Clear with a high of 70

📰 Columbia City Council Greenlights Special Census for Lucrative Revenue Boost  

🌷 Tennessee Tulip Festival at Lucky Ladd Farms March 16-April 14

🏀 Dalton Knecht Shines Bright: Tennessee’s Basketball Star Named SEC Player of the Year

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details! 

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

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March 30th

Columbia City Council Greenlights Special Census for Lucrative Revenue Boost

Newly released census bureau data reveals that Maury County boasts a local response rate of 65%, exceeding the state's prevailing average response rate of 61.1%. Credit: U.S. Census Bureau

Columbia City Council has given the green light for a special census slated for later this year, a move with the potential to yield millions in additional annual revenue. During their monthly study session, council members convened for a special-called meeting to approve the submission of $928,069 to the U.S. Census Bureau (USCB), as explained by City Manager Tony Massey. The special census, akin to a regular census, is anticipated to commence in the summer and conclude in the fall. This timeline aims to provide the new census numbers in time for the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget and state-shared taxes resulting from the special census.

Massey highlighted the USCB's estimated growth for Columbia, projecting an increase of approximately 6,800 people since 2020, with a claimed accuracy rate of about 94%. The primary objective of the census, mirroring practices in Spring Hill, is to monitor population growth, translating into potential benefits for the city, such as augmented annual revenue. If the projections hold true, or if the population growth surpasses expectations, it could result in around $1.2 million in new annual revenue or approximately $6 million by the 2030 census.

The special census, by tracking increased growth since the 2020 census, could unlock new grant opportunities and potentially position Columbia as an "entitlement city" if the population reaches or exceeds 50,000. Assistant City Manager and Financial Officer Thad Jablonski explained that for some cities, being designated an entitlement city impacts the annual financial allocation, dependent on various factors. As Columbia approaches the 50,000 threshold, evaluating and considering the implications of entitlement city status becomes a viable option.

Premier Chiropractic Expands to Columbia

The most award-winning chiropractic office in Spring Hill is expanding to Columbia! This grand opening celebration is one that the whole family can enjoy…

Win a Traeger Smoker - Free S’mores to the First 200 guests
- Balloon Twists - Face Painting - Raffles - Music from Seth Barnett
- Food Trucks - Charcuterie Boards - Bounce House

Friday, March 15th
3:00 - 7:00 PM
1412 Trotwood Ave, Suite 88

Tennessee Tulip Festival at Lucky Ladd Farms March 16-April 14

Join Lucky Ladd Farms for an enchanting spring experience at the largest tulip farm in the Southeastern United States! With over 700,000 tulips spanning 100 varieties, immerse yourself in a world of vibrant colors and beauty.

Your ticket also includes access to over 50 fun attractions. Whether you're a tulip enthusiast, a photographer, or just looking for a perfect day out, the Tennessee Tulip Festival is your springtime destination.

Tulips are an agricultural crop and therefore the weather determines when the tulips will start blooming. They estimate blooms will start popping open mid-to-late March and continue through the first few weeks in April. Tulip fields may not be entirely in full bloom all at the same time as they've staggered their varieties so guests may enjoy the tulips over a 2-3 week period since tulip season comes and goes quickly. Follow #tntuliptracker for bloom status.

Dalton Knecht Shines Bright: Tennessee’s Basketball Star Named SEC Player of the Year

In a remarkable season, Dalton Knecht has emerged as Tennessee's latest SEC Player of the Year, marking a significant achievement for the talented player. Averaging an impressive 21.4 points per game throughout the season, Knecht showcased his prowess by elevating his performance to 25.5 points per game in SEC matchups.

The Northern Colorado transfer delivered an extraordinary performance in SEC games, boasting an impressive record of 10 games with 25 or more points, six games with 30 or more points, four games with 35 or more points, and an outstanding 40-point game. Notably, he also achieved a remarkable 37-point game against North Carolina in November.

Tennessee's associate head coach, Justin Gainey, expressed admiration for Knecht's stellar performance, emphasizing the magnificence of his contributions throughout the year. Knecht's achievements make him the second SEC Player of the Year under Coach Barnes, following in the footsteps of Grant Williams, who achieved this honor twice in 2018 and 2019. Knecht now joins an esteemed group as the 10th Vol to clinch this prestigious award.

Having embarked on his basketball journey at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado, Knecht showcased impressive accuracy with a shooting percentage of 47.4% from the field and an equally commendable 40.5% on 3-pointers. His outstanding contributions earned him SEC Player of the Week honors on four separate occasions.

Reflecting on Knecht's journey, Coach Gainey described it as a fairytale-type narrative, highlighting the resilience and dedication that contributed to Knecht's success on the basketball court.