The U.S. Census is set to make it’s once a decade visit. Maps and up-to-date addresses have been logged by the census bureau and mailings are ready to go out. All that’s needed is participation by the residents of the United States.
In Laramie County a committee has been formed to get information about the census to the people of the county. Each community and school district was asked to send a representative so information can be disseminated easily and thoroughly throughout the county. Jim Clark is the representative from Burns.
"This is important," Clark said. "Every person not counted costs $850 in lost federal tax revenue each year for 10 years."
That revenue goes into the community to support a variety of social services, transportation needs, road rehabilitation and construction, schools, health services and more. Missing out on 100 people can cost the county $850,000 over 10 years.
Clark is hoping for a better response than was recorded in 2000, though Burns led the state in the number of census forms returned. The percentage of returns for Burns was 79 percent. Pine Bluffs followed with 75 percent and Albin had 60 percent. Laramie County sat at 73 percent.
Clark said it is important for everyone filling out the census form to know the information gathered is protected.
"It is 72 years before the information becomes public knowledge," he said. "I know this first hand from doing genealogies."
The information is sealed under federal law for that 72 years — roughly the length of a generation of people.
Clark also noted if a census taker gets caught giving out information they can be sentenced to five years in prison, be levied a $250,000 fine or both. By law, the census bureau cannot share an individual’s personal information with anyone, including other federal government agencies or law enforcement entities.
As the first step — checking maps and addresses — is complete, it is time for the second step to begin. During the month of March more than 130 million addresses throughout the nation will receive a census form in the mail.
"There are 10 questions on the form," Clark explained. "It takes 10 minutes to fill it out. Then just drop it back in the mail and you’re done."
The official Census Day is April 1, and step three in the process — making sure residents respond. The form asks for information on who is living in one’s home on April 1, 2010.
"We’re hoping on that date everyone will begin sending the form back in," Clark said.
Step four is the beginning of follow-up visits. Because every person counts, addresses from which no response has been received will be visited by a census taker who will help get the form filled out. Visits are scheduled to take place from the beginning of April through July. Official census workers can be identified by a census badge and bag.
The final step in the process is the actual counting of the responses. The count is to be delivered to President Barrack Obama by Dec. 31. The count will include the total population and the number of representatives from each state.
For more information on the 2010 Census, visit 2010census.gov.
