by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Census Bureau ready for count
Next March, something will be delivered to the mailbox at every household in America that hasn’t been delivered in 10 years. It’s the 2010 U.S. Census questionnaire and the data collected through the program will have effects on communities and the people who live in them for a decade.
The count of everyone living in the United States is mandated by the U.S. Constitution and has been taking place every 10 years since 1790. Census data are used to distribute Congressional seats to states and to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year.
The U.S. Census Bureau began printing 120 million census questionnaire last month at the rate of 1.5 million per day. According to the Census Bureau, the 2010 questionnaire requires 30 percent less ink than in 2000 and the forms are printed on 30 percent recycled paper.
For the first time, more than 13 million of the documents will be bilingual (English and Spanish). That’s based on tests that show targeting the bilingual questionnaires toward areas with high concentrations of Spanish-only speakers will improve response rates. Questionnaires will also be available by request in Spanish, Chinese (simplified), Korean, Vietnamese and Russian. Guides in 60 languages will also be available which provide instructions on how to complete the questionnaire.
Another part of the effort that has already begun is an initiative to make everyone aware of the census and how important it is to participate by filling out the form and mailing it back to the Census Bureau. When the last census was taken in 2000, only 65 percent of the forms were returned by mail. That meant U.S. Census “enumerators” were dispatched to gather the data from the remaining 35 percent of households.
The Census Bureau will hire 1.4 million people to conduct the 2010 Census including the enumerators. More than 50 of those people will work in Duval County, said Pamela Bellis, U.S. Census senior media specialist.
“The more people who mail back the form, the less the census will cost,” she added. “It costs 30 cents when it’s mailed back, but it will cost $30 if we have to send an enumerator to your home.”
In 2000, Jacksonville’s citizens matched the national average 65 percent mail back rate. The goal for the 2010 Census is to raise that number by 5 percent nationwide.
“We will save $90 million for every percentage point we can raise it,” said Bellis.
The Census Bureau is looking for partners in the local business community who can help raise awareness that the census is coming and how important it is to participate and provide accurate data. Specific ethnic groups and other populations will be the focus of a variety of programs and events.
One such program is being headed by Theo Jack Jr. who produces Jacksonville’s annual Caribbean Carnival. He was motivated to join the census participation effort because when he tried to secure data on the number of people from the Caribbean who live in North Florida he discovered the statistics don’t exist.
In addition to placing census information on the Caribbean Carnival’s Web site (www.jacksonvillecarnival.com) Jack said he has offered the Census Bureau a booth at the Oct. 22-24 event at Metropolitan Park.
“We reach out to all of Jacksonville with the carnival, but our goal is to try to get the Caribbean community to realize how important the census is,” said Jack. “If the Caribbean community will fill out the form the government will know we are here. I know they know we are here, there just aren’t any numbers. There are so many government programs available, but you have to show up on the census to take advantage of them.”
Bellis said hiring will begin soon for the local Census Bureau temporary positions. Supervisors, crew leaders and enumerators are needed and no experience is required. For more information visit www.census.gov.
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