SUMMARY

• The 2010 Census will occur in March & April 2010.
• It is important to the community that every Madison County resident be counted.

LEGAL REQUIREMENT

• The census is a count of everyone living in the United States every 10 years.
• The census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution.
• Participation in the census is required by law.

IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY

• The 2010 Census is the community’s chance to capture its true growth.
• Census data is used to reapportion Congressional representation, state and local political districts and is the basis for nearly every major government program over the next 10 years.
• Over $400 billion in federal funding for roads and infrastructure and economic and social programs will be distributed nationally each year based on population figures derived from the 2010 Census.
• Each person counted equates to approximately an additional $1,200 in annual federal funding for the community. (A family of five equates to approximately an additional $6,000).
• Undercounting the population of the community hurts the community’s ability to receive federal funding and plan and grow for the future.
• Help is needed to make sure each person responds.

TIMELINE

• Residents will receive the 2010 Census form in the mail in March.
• The Census form takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
• Federal law protects the personal information shared during the Census.
• Each person is asked to return the postage paid form in the mail before or on April 1.
• After April 1, Census takers will follow up door-to-door with those residents who have not responded.

CENSUS SECURITY CONCERNS

• No Social Security numbers are asked for by the Census.
• No Census forms will be filled out online (if asked to do so it is likely fraud).
• No information on immigration status is requested. The Census mandate is to count every person living in the U.S. regardless of immigration status.