South Mountain Villager

It’s a New Year, It’s a New Census!

It’s easy to understand why we celebrate the New Year, but you may not have given much thought to celebrating 2010 as a census year. Most everyone knows what the U.S. Census is – a count of the people – but in these challenging economic times, it’s important to spread the word about what the Census actually does. Each completed Census form equates to funding for important community services including job training programs, neighborhood fire stations, bus service, library hours, senior services and programs for children and youth.

For Phoenix residents, each person counted means $400 a year in federal and state funds for these types of services. Reverse that thought, and each person living in Phoenix who is not counted in the 2010 Census means a direct loss of $400 a year to the City budget.  When multiplied by your neighbors’ responses, that adds up to a potential loss of millions of dollars.

Conducting a count of the people every 10 years is part of our Constitution, which makes it the law for every household to return a completed census form. At the national level, getting an accurate population count through the census distributes more than $400 billion annually in federal, state, city and tribal funds. Counting our population also determines the number of Congressional seats for each state and defines state legislative districts.  Closer to home, the census count helps guide the boundaries of Phoenix City Council districts.

In this time of heightened awareness about protecting our personal information, it’s also good to know that the information you provide on the census questionnaire is completely confidential.  Personal census information is not shared with any other government agency or organization. There are no exceptions. As a matter of fact, Census workers take a lifetime confidentiality oath and can go to jail for revealing census information.

Another important feature of the 2010 Census is that it’s the shortest questionnaire in the history of the census (since 1790!). When you receive your 2010 Census form in the mail in March, it will have just 10 questions and should take just a few minutes to complete. A postage-paid envelope is provided, which makes it even easier for each of us to drop our completed form in the outgoing mail.

While many of us think of census workers going door-to-door to count our population, that’s really only used as a last resort. Getting an accurate count of the people is so important that, if you don’t return the questionnaire by the end of April, a census representative will call you or visit your home as many as six times. If you still don’t respond, your neighbors may be asked about the people residing in your home.

So when you see your own 2010 Census form arrive at your home in mid-March, fill it out and drop it in the mail. It’s easy, it’s safe, and it’s important. Because by doing so, you are not only obeying the law – you are helping ensure vital funding for important community services.