National and local officials are gearing up for the 2010 census, with both groups placing a strong emphasis on census awareness and completion.
In an effort to boost census response rates, the Dickinson Complete Counts Committee of has been elected and is preparing for their work in the months leading to the 2010 census, which will be mailed out beginning March 15.
A Dickinson Complete Counts Committee meeting is scheduled for Sept. 18 at 8 a.m. at City Hall.
At a Stark County Development Corporation meeting in Dickinson on Monday morning, Lori Jordheim, Stark County area census count coordinator, said she takes her elected position very seriously as both Dickinson and Stark County could receive federal dollars for each census completed.
Jordheim said Dickinson could receive $1,000 for every one person who completes the survey and Stark County could receive $3,000 in federal dollars.
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Jerry O'Donnell, regional coordinator for partnership and data service at the U.S. Census Bureau's Denver regional office, said based on census data, more than $400 billion annually is allocated back to states and localities.
"That's involving 140 different federal programs that require census data into their grant formulas," O'Donnell said. "If 20 people were missed in Dickinson, that adds up pretty quickly."
The upcoming census will include all Dickinson citizens, including non U.S. citizens, Jordheim said.
Jordheim said hard-to-reach counts include oilfield workers, Dickinson State University students and snowbirds -- people who travel to warmer places during winter months.
The census advertising and awareness campaign is not carrying a small price tag.
O'Donnell said the government is slated to spend more than $250 million dollars on an advertising campaign from January through census day.
At Monday's Stark County Development Corporation meeting, the board of directors discussed allocating county funds to the efforts.
"If the Complete Count Committee is going to come up with some resources to complement our paid advertising campaign, that's a great idea because it then targets Dickinson and it isn't going to be a generic commercial," O'Donnell said.
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O'Donnell said census completion will be promoted in places such as schools and churches.
The 2010 census has several intricate parts.
Residents near Belfield reportedly had census employees taking GPS coordinates of their homes, and when the residents asked to have a copy of the coordinates, they were denied.
"We preserve confidentiality of any individual records," O'Donnell said. "Even if the FBI director asked for his, we can't give it to him."
While every U.S. resident will receive the "short" form of the 2010 census, which includes 10 general questions, about one in 40 will receive the long form, known as the American Community Survey.
Pam Spicciati, a U.S. Census Bureau data specialist, said households should only receive the survey once every five years.
Spicciati said ACS recipients are chosen by random computer selection.
The ACS is the largest of any U.S Census Bureau survey, with the document totaling 14 pages.
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Questions on the ACS are much more personal, with some asking what time a person leaves for work, the address of one's job and how much one pays for a mortgage per month.
"The ACS is part of the census and it's required by law. It is set by our lawmakers in D.C.," O'Donnell said. "Every one of those questions is tied to a piece of legislation."
If an individual chooses to omit questions on the ACS, O'Donnell said the household will receive a phone call to obtain the information.
"That information is so vital to federal grants and funding," O'Donnell said.
