The 2020 Census Impacts You

THE SUPERVISOR ASKS: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO COMPLETE THE 2020 CENSUS?

The simple answer is that the information collected by the Census Bureau impacts YOU and YOUR COMMUNITY for the next 10 years.

DID YOU KNOW? If you have a post office box and do not have your mail delivered to your home, YOU MAY NOT COUNTED. Wheatland residents who receive their mail at a post office box will not receive written correspondence from the census bureau. The Census Bureau cannot mail information to a PO Box because it cannot be matched to a physical address. Your physical address is needed to count you at the place where you actually live. For Town residents who use PO Boxes for their mail, in order to avoid having to be contacted by a census worker, simply go online and fill out your census form, it’s a good way to ensure you are counted and while helping maintain social distancing during these challenging times. The appropriate Government Census link is : https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-online.html.

There are several important reasons to complete your 2020 Census Forms.

  1. The census guides how much money a community is allocated in federal funding for such things as hospitals, fire departments, school lunch programs, and the Federal Pell Grant Program (provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post-baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education).
  2. The census data determines congressional representation and is used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
  3. The results also determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives
  4. The results will show where communities need new schools
  5. The results will also show where communities need new clinics
  6. The census data helps to determine where new roads and bridges are needed
  7. The results also guide the calculation of federal funding for social programs such as Medicaid, Head Start and community mental health services.
  8. The Census data supports efforts of economic development when business owners rely on census results to make decisions as to where to open new stores, restaurants, factories, or offices or where to expand operations and recruitment of employees or which services and products to offer.
  9. Most of all, completing the 2020 Census is important because it impacts YOU! It helps municipalities to provide essential services without the entire financial burden placed on the taxpayer. It helps to provide accurate representation both politically and financially. It helps to support your community, your schools and your neighbors.

Thanks for your attention to this important matter and stay safe!

Linda Dobson, Town of Wheatland Supervisor