Committee formed for Census count

The Census is coming.

A group of community leaders met Aug. 26 to form the 2020 Census Complete Count Committee (CCC), at the Fulton County Judge’s Office in Hickman.

Attending were Debbie Barnes, Fulton County Health Department in Hickman; Anna McCoy, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service in Fulton County and Fulton County Consumer Science Agent; Thea Vowell, Twin Cities Chamber of Commerce and Fulton Tourism Director; Lynn Busby, Housing Authority of Hickman; Floyd Cash, Hickman Postmaster; Tommy Hodges, Fulton County Judge’s Office; and Barbara Atwill, The Current.

Calloway County resident La Dawn Hale, a Partnership Specialist with the Philadelphia Regional Census, presented information for the 2020 Census.

Hale stated the goal of the CCC is for everyone in the community to be counted. She referred those in attendance to a leaflet, Census 101: What you need to know about the 2020 Census.

It is important to remember everyone counts, the census counts every person living in the United States once, and only once, in the right place, she noted.

According to Hale it is about fair representation. Every 10 years, the results of the census are used to reapportion the House of Representatives, as well as, local school board districts, to determine how many seats each state or district will get.

It’s in the constitution. The first census was held in 1790 when George Washington was President, and has been held every 10 years since.

Hale stated, “The census bureau conducts 130 surveys between the 10 years. The 2020 Census will come out March 12, 2020.”

The collected census data is used by businesses to decide where to build factories, offices and stores, which create jobs.

Local governments use the data for public safety and emergency preparedness.

Real estate developers use the census to build new homes and revitalize old neighborhoods.

Residents use the census to support community initiatives involving legislation, quality-of-life and consumer advocacy.

Changes from the 2010 census include the building a more accurate address list and automating field operations, all while keeping information confidential and safe.

For the first time, responses may be made online, by phone, or by mail; and the data the public provides will cut down on in-person follow up visits to non-responding households.

Hale said, “There are census tracks all over the United States. The hard-to-count regions did not self-respond the first time in 2010. We want them to be educated about the census so they will self-respond the first time around in 2020.”

Hale said she will be a liaison for the CCC to educate how to better get a piece of the federal pie.

“Over $265,000,000,000 goes out to local communities for roads, schools, free or reduced lunches, housing authorities, family resources, and health departments. The census is not interested in how much someone makes, but rather what people to know if they are at the poverty level and need resources,” Hale stated.

It is required by law to keep the census information confidential, with all responses provided on the census questionnaire or to a census board employee confidential and protected under Title XIII of the U.S. Code.

Violation of the confidential laws are subject to never breach confidential information for a life time. Penalty for wrongful disclosure is up to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000.

Address canvassing is in the process of checking addresses to see if a house is located at each address, or if it there is no longer a house there. Individuals canvassing should be wearing a badge and are safe, with each one having gone through background checks.