Data collected in the 2020 Census will determine how many congressional seats each state holds in the House of Representatives, and how state and federal dollars will be allocated to local governments over the next 10 years. That’s $675 billion at stake, which is why a complete and accurate count matters, according to the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership.
Roads and highways, health clinics and hospitals, fire departments and schools all depend on adequate funding so it’s important to count everyone in a community for the count to be accurate.
An undercount could cost $2,000 per person per year of funding lost, which would add up over 100 years.
The annual headcount is required by the U.S. Constitution and has been undertaken every 10 years since 1790. Census responses are confidential and protected under Title 13 of the U.S. Code, and personal information is never shared with immigration or law enforcement agencies.
Census forms will be mailed out in mid-March in advance of National Census Day on April 1, when the Census Bureau will begin recording responses. For the first time, the Bureau will permit respondents to answer the survey online, by mail, or by phone. All forms should be completed by April 30.
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See Santa Cruz County Census 2020 on Facebook to learn more.
