Maitland City Talk

Maitland Needs Your Help to Complete the 2010 Census

Do you have 10 minutes?

Do you have 10 minutes to help our children learn in new and improved schools?

Do you have 10 minutes to help ill or aging family members gain access to new hospitals, new senior centers or enhanced health care services?

Do you have 10 minutes to ease your daily commute or improve public transportation options?

All of these things and more depend on data collected during the 2010 Census. I need you to join me in taking 10 minutes to complete and return your census form.

This week, the U.S. Census Bureau distributed the 2010 Census to more than 130 million addresses across the nation. Mandated by the U.S. Constitution and conducted every 10 years, the census counts every man, woman and child. Mailing back the census form is the easiest way to participate in the 2010 Census, and every household should complete and mail back the form upon receipt.

The 2010 Census is important to our community's future. The data gathered will determine funding for vital local services as well as representation at all levels of government. To ensure an accurate count, join me in taking 10 minutes to fill out the form and mail it back.

Here's why:

Census data helps determine how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to tribal, state and local governments for services that affect local communities such as ours. Census data can help fund services for people in poverty, and establish facilities for people with disabilities, children and the elderly.

Census data helps forecast future transportation needs and determines how we are represented in all levels of government. Basically, the 2010 Census is about the future and well-being of our community and country.

Completing and mailing back your form is the easiest and most efficient method of participating. This is one of the shortest census forms in U.S. Census history. It asks 10 questions and only takes about 10 minutes to complete.

All of your answers are safe and confidential. By law, the U.S. Census Bureau cannot share your answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

Census workers have to visit households that do not return forms to take the count in person. Not only does mailing back a form ensure an accurate count, it also lowers the cost of the 2010 Census by reducing the number of census workers who must go door-to-door to collect census data.

To put it in perspective, about $85 million is saved for every 1 percent increase in the number of forms returned by mail. Also, the Census Bureau saves $60 to $70 per census form mailed back.

"The 2010 Census is an historical event that will help shape the future of our country," said Robert Groves, U.S. Census Bureau director. "It is vital that everyone is counted once and only once and in the right place."

During Census 2000, about 72 percent of households across the country mailed back their forms by the April 2000 cut-off. I challenge you to beat that number this year.

Our community's future relies on the 2010 Census. Do what's right, take 10 minutes to complete and mail back your census form.

Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QAC) will be available to assist those unable to read or understand the census form. For those with visual impairments, the Language Assistance Guide will be available in large print and Braille. Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons who do not have access to Video Relay Service (VRS) can call the TDD number, 1-866-783-2010. In addition to these options, Language Assistance Guides will be available in 59 languages at all QAC locations.

For more information, please visit 2010census.gov.

—Special thanks to Kristine Neal, communications coordinator for the city of Maitland, for her contributions to this week's City Talk.