It’s in the mail.
The U.S. Census Bureau has sent out more than 120 million letters this month, letting the American public know their 2010 census form will begin arriving in the mail Monday.
The 2010 census is a count of everyone living in the United States, and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. The 10-question form is used to apportion congressional seats to states, to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to state, local and tribal governments each year and to make decisions about what community services to provide.
And James Powell, local census office manager in Lafayette, said those who need assistance with their form can get that help at one of 85 question assistance centers in Indiana. There are also nearly 80 “Be Counted” sites around the state, where people can pick up census questionnaires if they did not receive one.
Powell said it is important for everyone to fill out their form and return it, for three reasons: Their community is accurately represented in Washington, D.C., and gets the money and services it is due; the fewer people have to go door-to-door getting people to answer their questionnaire, and that saves “a ton of money,” he said.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, for every 1 percent increase in households that respond by mail, taxpayers save about $85 million in costs associated with sending census takers to homes that do not mail back the form.
The questionnaire comes with a prepaid return envelope.
Powell said the question assistance centers can help people who don’t speak English as their first language, by putting them on the phone with someone who speaks their language, in up to 15 languages. Census workers can also explain the form to anyone who does not understand it, he said.
Census workers say the questionnaire should take only 10 minutes to complete, and is confidential.
• Danielle Rush is the Kokomo Tribune education reporter. She can be reached at 765-454-8585 or danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com.
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