It makes no sense for the Town of Fountain Hills, or dozens of other small and rural Arizona communities, to participate in a 2015 mid-decade Census.

These municipalities would need to spend more to hold the census than they would offset with potential increases in state- shared revenues that are determined by formulas based on population.

While it is obviously a good decision for cities and towns not to spend more than they would benefit, there is a bit of a conundrum.

Fast growing cities like Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek and several others in the West Valley will be stepping up to hold the census in their respective communities, and their new figures could put the slower growth communities even further behind when it comes to dividing up the revenue pie.

And this is not just the small guys -- even Phoenix has a growth rate too small to offset the expense of a census, according to Town of Fountain Hills Administrative Service Director Grady Miller.

Whether or not to hold a census is no longer a question. The deadline to apply was March 31.

The revenues the state divides up based on a population formula include state income tax, state sales tax, Highway User Revenue Funds (HURF) and Vehicle License Tax.

Miller said the population formulas also figure into the amount of some grant awards.

Officials of the impacted municipalities have gotten together and with the help of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns will be asking the State Legislature for some type of relief.

Miller was among a group meeting April 17 to discuss a proposal that would be introduced as “fast track” legislation for the 2016 session.

The proposal would include provisions to allow cities to use state population estimates updated to reflect 2015; establishes the use of state estimates to avoid “cliffs” and provides stability in numbers on an annual basis; and allows cities to use 2010 Census numbers instead of new population estimates.

Another item discussed at the meeting was reimbursement options for some cities that already applied for the special census but changed their minds.

There are nine Arizona cities currently ready for the mid-decade census.

A task force is to be created consisting of seven members from among city managers and would be facilitated by the league. The group would include both those holding the special census and those not, as well as urban and rural communities.

The population of Fountain Hills determined by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2010 was 22,489. The 2014 estimate as determined by demographers with the Arizona Department of Administration was 23,090.