York, Cumberland counties unhappy with census figures

PORTLAND — Officials in several towns in York and Cumberland counties plan to contact the U.S. Census Bureau office in Boston to complain about what they describe as inflated figures for vacant homes.

The census terms as vacant any housing unit that is not occupied as a principle residence and units that are vacant or abandoned. Summer dwellings may fall into the vacant category.

Falmouth, Freeport, Saco and Scarborough officials are questioning preliminary figures given them in August concerning abandoned or seasonal homes in their communities.

Freeport Town Planner Jackie Cohen described as “outlandish” the figure of 405 that enumerators reported in her community for vacant housing.

Ten years ago Scarborough officials said the census counted 170 vacancies in town. They disagree with preliminary 1990 figures that show the number to have risen to 655 vacant units.

Saco was reported to have 860 vacancies and Falmouth 261 vacancies. Town officials in both communities are looking into the matter.

Communities were given the figures to check against their own estimates. The Census Bureau collects the complaints and formal hearings will be held after final calculations are tabulated next spring, said Daivd R. Stinson, geography specialist at the bureau’s Boston office.

Town officials are concerned about the figures because the amount of state and federal aid given a community is often based on census figures.