The Town of Fountain Hills is not likely to be a willing participant in a 2015 mid-decade census should the Maricopa Association of Governments decide to move forward with one.

Grady Miller, administrative services director for the town, said it is apparent that MAG member cities are split on going ahead with the intermediate census with high growth cities wanting the count while smaller, low growth municipalities like Fountain Hills would prefer to opt out.

Miller said the special census would cost the town about $450,000, an amount it would most certainly not recover from added state-shared revenues, which are determined based on growth.

Miller said two-thirds of the cities in the region would be on the losing end of a mid-decade census, or with the option of using state Department of Economic Security population estimates.

According to Miller, some cities would like to see a change in state law that would provide alternatives to one of two undesirable paths to take. A group of East Valley cities is working to include such legislation in the next session.

Miller will be reporting further on the issue to the Town Council when it meets Thursday.

Miller’s report shares the regular agenda with a report on the just-concluded legislative session and bills followed by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.

Prior to the regular session the council is scheduled to go into a closed executive session to discuss the vacancy in the town manager position, as Town Manager Ken Buchanan has announced his intent to retire.

The council meets Thursday, April 16, with the executive session to begin at 5 p.m. and the regular meeting to start at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at Town Hall.

The regular session is open to the public.

During the time from 6 to 6:30 p.m. staff will be hosting an open house for the public to receive information and ask questions about the proposed draft town budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year (see separate story elsewhere).