Census 2020: So much at stake!
COUDERSPORT -- Did you know that once every ten years, you
hold the civic duty to participate in the U.S. Census? Failure to do so has
consequences that can seriously short-change your community.
For instance, a town in Jefferson County recently failed to qualify
for $300,000 in funding for a local bridge project due to a 2010 census
undercount of just a few residents.
Census results are a key element in decisions on how some
$675 billion is spent supporting state, county, and community’s vital programs.
In an effort to ensure an accurate county in 2020, the U.S.
Census Bureau has simplified the process. Surveys have gone from 10 pages to a
mere 10 questions. Residents can participate online, via telephone, or by mail.
Surveys will be available for response beginning in March
2020, with non-response follow-ups to begin in May.
For each unaccounted citizen, counties and communities will
lose an estimated $23,000 in federal benefits during the decade. These are
funds that are earmarked for local education, transportation, health and human
services, housing, criminal justice, employment services, agriculture,
community infrastructure and environmental protection.
Responses remain confidential. Any illegal disclosure of
census data can be punished with severe fines and imprisonment.
Potter County Commissioners Doug Morley, Paul Heimel and
Susan Kefover have appointed a Complete Count Committee to work with regional
Census Bureau personnel to ensure an accurate count.
Additionally, the U.S. Census Bureau is currently looking to
fill part-time jobs to conduct fieldwork and door-to-door assessments.
Interested parties may find more information and apply online at
2020census.gov/jobs. Additional information is also available by calling
toll-free 1-855-562-2020.
