With the U.S. Census Bureau moving closer to launching its 2020 count, the
agency is beginning to add staff all across the country. Census liaisons for Potter County are Commissioner Paul Heimel and Will Hunt and Deb Ostrom from the
Planning Department. They report that there will be part-time job opportunities
to conduct field work and door-to-door assessments. Anyone interested in
potential employment as a manager, crew leader, clerk, census representative or
field agent can find information as well as apply for positions online at census.gov. More information is also by calling
toll-free 1-855-562-2020.
As the county’s population continues to fall, local officials say it is
important that everyone complete the census survey when it is received. Census
numbers have a direct effect on grants as well as government representation.
Data are used to distribute more than 50 programs, including support for
education, transportation, health and human services, housing, criminal justice,
employment services, farming and environmental protection. For each uncounted
citizen, a county will lose an estimated $10,000 in federal benefits during the
decade.
“Our county’s population began falling from a modern-day high in 2002 and the
mid-term census reports confirm additional declines,” said the local liaisons.
“The economic impact of an undercount in 2020 would hit us even harder. The best
we can do is to try to cut our losses by getting everyone counted. Residents
need to realize that there’s no ulterior motive or hidden agenda by the federal
government. By law, the census is just a population count and demographic
analysis.”
The Planning Department is working with township and borough officials to
support an accurate result from the census. Planning staff has also drawn in the
county Emergency Management and Assessment offices to identify new homes and
verify mailing addresses. Questionnaires have been reduced from 10 pages to 10
questions. Forms will be mailed to area residents in early 2020. Census-takers’
non-response follow-ups begin in May 2020.
