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By Jerry Riley Yes, be prepared. Know the facts. The 2010 U.S. Census will be here in March! So why do I want you to get ready now? Because I’ve received a couple of emails that ranged from merely inaccurate to just plain wrong.
I am a member the Eureka Census “Complete Count Committee.” Not one that goes out to count people, but a group of local people who hope to educate Eurekans on the how the Census will be taken and why it is important to be counted. First, Coach Mac must have made an impression, because this census is simple: 10 questions for each and every person. The head of the household will have an additional four. The answers are already public information that could be found at the courthouse, in the phone book, or on the Web. All the form does is make it simpler to compile the data. It could be cheaper, but it goes through Washington, so I doubt it will be. When you get the form in the mail, fill it out and send it back. You’re done. No one will come to your door. Now, if you don’t fill it out and return in (actually, even if you do) you will probably get another identical form as a reminder for those who have forgotten. Why is it important? There are many reasons. The number of people counted living in a municipality determines how much tax money returns the our local taxing bodies and aids in determining what kinds of grants the governmental units will be eligible to receive. It will also help determine the boundaries of our congressional districts. There are lots of good reasons to return it an no good reasons not to. Perhaps the best reason to return it is because you are proud to stand up and be counted for America! You can check it out on line at http://2010.census.gov/2010census / Jerry Riley is an occasional commentator for the News Bulletin. He is a retired telecommunications supervisor. © 2009 All Rights Reserved |
