Haines challenges Census Count, with millions on the line

The Haines Borough is challenging the U.S. government’s official count of its population, saying the Census Bureau undercounted the town’s population by about 20%. The money threatens millions of dollars of federal funding over the next decade.

The 2020 Census reported Haines’ population as 2080, down from 2,508 10 years earlier. That immediately raised red flags for borough officials.

“If we had lost almost 500 people, you would feel it in our town,” said Haines Borough clerk Alekka Fullerton. “You would see it in empty houses, in schools, and in voter rolls.”

Census counts happen every 10 ye...