Census the difference in positive, negative financial effects

Greg Phillips
May 1, 2010

When Myland Brown checked his mail last month and saw a letter from the federal government, he instantly became skeptical.

After all, he’d grown accustomed to confusing, seemingly contradicting forms, surveys and letters over the years.

But once he opened the envelope and actually looked at the contents, a sense of relief washed over him. Just a few minutes later, his 2010 U.S. Census form was completed and ready to be mailed.

“It was easy, and I really thought it was going to be difficult,” Brown said. “Anytime the government sends out a form, you think it’s going to be difficult. This was so simple. All you had to do was pay attention to the instructions.”

Brown’s was one of more than 120 million census forms sent out this year by the U.S. government, but the nationwide participation rate this year is the same as a decade prior—72 percent.

The government had hoped this year’s shorter, simpler form would lead more people to return their forms.

“This is the shortest form in history, because we would like everyone to fill out the census and return it,” said Earlene Dowell, public affairs specialist for the U.S Census Bureau. “Our message was ‘10 questions, 10 minutes.’”

That message proved to be true for Dothan resident Jason Edberg.

“It took me maybe 10 minutes,” Edberg said. “It seemed pretty easy, just general information.”

The bureau made a strong effort this year to reach as many households as possible.

In addition to houses, residents who utilize other living arrangements were reached as well.

“The goal was to count everybody where they live,” Dowell said. “There was actually a partnership with a lot of the colleges, and a lot of the (resident advisers) promoted students to fill out the forms. Enumerators, the census takers, also go to these different communities, whether they’re colleges or trailer parks, who live in trailers or gated communities.”

Saturday marked the first day of the Census Bureau’s non-response follow-up operation, where census workers travel to households that failed to return their

forms.

The workers will ask residents the census questions, and will return up to six times to attempt to reach those people through July 10.

A financial penalty does exist for those who don’t fill out the census, which is required by law.

“There is a fine, and it can range from $100 to $5,000,” Dowell said. “However, we just try to make sure everyone has a chance to fill out the form.”

The primary reason a resident should complete his or her census form, according to Dowell, is the financial benefit to his or her region.

“Definitely, the main reason is to help their communities,” Dowell said. “There’s $400 billion distributed, with that money used whenever they need the money for building roads and schools. It’s a variety of factors the decision-makers (look at), but the majority of it is how many people live in that area.”

Edberg looks at the census as a civic duty.

“I turned it all in just trying to be the citizen I’m supposed to be and make things better for Dothan,” he said. “If you want a better Dothan, that’s the way you’re going to get it. It’s the only way we’re going to get anymore money down this way. This is the only way to let them know who we are and where we’re at.”

Pam Bellis, who also lives in Dothan, didn’t hesitate to answer the form’s 10 questions.

“I thought it was much easier than previous ones,” she said. “It’s better for your town when you fill one out. We need to have an accurate population number, and this was straightforward.”

Yet despite the benefits and ease of the form, many residents still haven’t returned their forms.

Some Dothan residents point to a general distrust of the government as the primary dissuading factor.

“Sometimes people become skeptical and apprehensive about the government coming into their lives,” Brown said. “But this is one time the federal government is being intrusive, but it’s a positive intrusion instead of a negative intrusion. Sometimes you get a form and look at it, see all the squares and boxes, and put it in the garbage can. Take a look at it before you discard it, because it’s very easy. It’s to your benefit to complete the form and send it back.”

Results from this year’s census must be collected and delivered to President Barack Obama by December.