CML submits comments on proposed U.S. Census rulemaking

CML submitted comments this month to the U.S. Census Bureau in response to a proposed rulemaking that would dramatically modify how the decennial census is conducted. CML’s comments were rooted in the 2026-2027 Policy Statement, which articulates CML's support for “sufficient federal funding support of the decennial census to assure a complete and accurate count that reflects population, municipal borders, regional equity, and hard to count populations.”

Among other things, the proposed rule would count residency based on where a person spends the most time between January-April of the year, remove traditional demographic questions, and exclude counting of large categories of Colorado residents based on immigration status. The winter counting period relying on new standards would lead to inaccurate counts of population in states and local jurisdictions, negatively affecting key matters like congressional apportionment, federal funding entitlement, and electoral district boundaries. The demographic modifications similarly could contribute to miscounts, as possibly reducing participation, and would lead to inaccurate data that municipalities rely on for strategic planning.

CML’s comments joined similar comments opposing the rule made by the National League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the International City/County Management Association, and other municipal leagues.