Farm Bureau encourages participation in 2010 Census

(Hiawassee, GA) – Federal representation and funding are on the line with the 2010 Census, the head count required every 10 years by the U.S. Constitution. That’s why Farm Bureau is encouraging its members to complete and return the 10-question census form they recently received by April 1.

“We’re encouraging all of Towns county’s residents to participate in the census,” said Dennis Miles, Towns County Farm Bureau president. “The amount of state and federal funding our county receives in the next decade will be determined by the 2010 Census, so it’s important everyone in our county is counted.”

The census data is used to determine how and where more than $400 billion per year in federal funding will be spent. That funding often goes for things like schools, hospitals, job training centers, senior centers, bridges and underpasses and enhancements to emergency services. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, local communities lose up to $1,700 in federal funding for each household that is not counted.

The national population count also is used to set districts for the U.S. House of Representatives and the state legislature beginning with the 2012 elections. In addition to government uses of the census data, private companies often use population numbers in making business decisions, such as where to open a new store.

“There are multiple ways accurate census numbers could help improve the quality of life in Towns County,” Miles said. “It’s free and simple to do, and there could be significant benefits to our community.”

During the 2000 Census, 65 percent of Georgia households returned their census forms. Many rural areas in Georgia were assigned high “hard to count” scores. Last fall, Gov. Sonny Perdue formed the 2010 Census Complete Count Committee to ensure Georgia has the best response rate possible. The 43-member committee, which includes a Georgia Farm Bureau representative, is working to encourage Georgians to participate in the 2010 Census for more accurate results.

The 2010 census form consists of just 10 questions and should take only a few minutes to complete. A small percentage of the population will be asked to complete subsequent annual surveys seeking more detailed socioeconomic information.

Households that do not return the completed form are required to be visited by a census worker, costing taxpayers an estimated $30 per household visited. The Census Bureau provides the census taker with a binder containing all of the addresses that didn’t return a completed census form. The census taker then visits all of those addresses and records the answers to the questions on the form. The census taker will ONLY ask the questions that appear on the census form. They will NEVER ask for your Social Security Number or personal banking information, such as account numbers or passwords. If no one answers at a particular residence, a census taker will visit that home up to three times, each time leaving a door hanger featuring a phone number; residents can call the number on the hanger to schedule the visit.

Visit www.census.georgia.gov to learn more about the 2010 Census. The Towns County Farm Bureau was established in 1959. It currently has about 1000 members and is affiliated with the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation headquartered in Macon, Ga. Founded in 1937; Georgia Farm Bureau is the largest general farm organization in the state. It is a private organization not affiliated with state or federal government.

Some key dates and points:

• Residences should receive the 2010 Census form during the month of March.
• April 1 is Census Day, the target date for having all census forms filled out and turned in.
• During May through July, census takers will visit households that did not return the form.
• The Census Bureau is required to deliver population counts to the president by Dec. 31.
• The Census Bureau delivers redistricting data to the states in March 2011.
• Under federal law, census takers are prohibited from disclosing information collected during the census, and the Census Bureau is not allowed to share the information with anyone, including the IRS, FBI, CIA or any other government agency. In addition, all census employees take an oath to protect the confidentiality of the data and face stiff penalties for disclosing it.