Bellevue once again led Blaine County cities in population growth, according to new estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Bellevue's population climbed 4.67 percent from mid-2003 to mid-2004. The city counted 2,201 residents, up from 2,098 the previous year.
"There's an impact on city services with that many more people to take care of," said City Councilman Shaun Mahoney. "We have to make sure they're safe; we have to make sure there's water for them; we have to make sure there's sewer for them."
Bellevue led increases in Blaine County cities the previous year as well, boosting its population 5.43 percent from 2002 numbers.
Mahoney sees a few challenges in providing services for the city's residents.
"There's always obstacles because they cost money," he said.
Bellevue voters who turned out for a special election in May rejected a proposal to help fund municipal services.
The property tax increase proposal would have enlarged the city's budget by $300,000 to help fund city services such as the police, fire and street departments.
Regardless, the council is forging ahead to address future growth by working on a capital investment plan, which sets goals for the city and addresses associated costs.
"We have to set up infrastructure to anticipate growth," Mahoney said. "It's kind of like a business. You have to make it run for the future."
Bellevue's northerly neighbor of Hailey saw a population increase of 2.5 percent, according to the census estimates. In 2004 the population was estimated at 7,462.
Ketchum's population rose just .76 percent, going from 3,118 in 2003 to 3,142 in 2004. Sun Valley saw its numbers reduced by four, from 1,457 in 2003 to 1,453 in 2004.
Carey's population estimate of 521 remained the same.
The perceived dispersion of Blaine County population to surrounding counties is not always reflected in the census's estimates.
Fairfield, the seat of Camas County, saw a decrease in population estimates, from 391 in 2003 to 375 in 2004.
Jerome's 2004 population estimate of 8,377 is a 1.8 percent increase from the 2003 number of 8,226.
Population numbers in Shoshone, county seat of Lincoln County, were on the rise just .8 percent, from 1,484 in 2003 to 1,496 last year.
The 2004 population estimate for Idaho is 1,393,262, a 1.93 percent increase over the previous year's number.
