Completing Your Census 2010 Form Is the Patriotic Thing to Do.
Tony Hernandez
Director, Division of Local Government
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
This March you’re going to receive something very valuable in your mailbox or at your home: a 2010 Census questionnaire.
Just how valuable is it? The data collected by the 2010 Census will help define how $400 billion in federal funding is allocated over the next 10 years. This money comes, in part, from tax dollars we have all paid, and will be given to states and communities for essential programs such as schools and libraries, tuition assistance, health services, parks, and road improvements. It has been estimated that each Coloradan counted is worth $880, or approximately $4.27 billion per year.
So now you know how the money is allocated, and how much we, as a state, stand to gain… but do you know why Colorado needs it, and which Coloradans need it the most? Almost everyone utilizes at least one of the vital programs funded by federal dollars, or knows and cares about someone who utilizes one.
As of 2008, it is estimated that our state population has grown to over five million people. Per the American Community Survey (ACS), there are at least 492,000 Coloradans over the age of 65, 44.5 percent - 45.7 percent of whom live alone. It’s easy to imagine that Colorado’s health and senior services are essential to many of these people.
Of Colorado’s more than 620,000 families with children, 12.6 percent - 13.4 percent live below the poverty level. This includes between 181,156 and 194,196 children under the age of 18. Many of these families rely on programs such as food stamps, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and other health services just to survive.
In 2009, 15 percent of the financial aid provided at Colorado’s state colleges and universities came from the federal government, a significant number considering the rising cost of higher education. For many students and families, college is just not an option without financial aid- making an accurate count in 2010 extremely important to them.
Libraries in cities and towns across the state provide safe, reliable learning and recreational opportunities. Unfortunately, during the recent economic downturn, many Colorado libraries have been forced to cut hours, services and staff, and in some cases, close their doors altogether. Because their funding relies in great part on Census data, this is a perfect example of how an accurate Census count helps our communities.
These are just a few examples of how ‘valuable’ an accurate census count is to Colorado. The best part is how easy it is for you to help Colorado get the money it needs. The 2010 Census questionnaire is the shortest in history with 10 simple questions, and can be completed in less than 10 minutes.
Participating in the Census is a constitutional requirement, but more importantly it’s the patriotic thing to do. Completing and returning your census questionnaire is like writing a check to your community, so please do your part. Watch for the questionnaire arriving in your mailbox or at your home in March. Complete it, return it and… Be Counted!
Director, Division of Local Government
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
This March you’re going to receive something very valuable in your mailbox or at your home: a 2010 Census questionnaire.
Just how valuable is it? The data collected by the 2010 Census will help define how $400 billion in federal funding is allocated over the next 10 years. This money comes, in part, from tax dollars we have all paid, and will be given to states and communities for essential programs such as schools and libraries, tuition assistance, health services, parks, and road improvements. It has been estimated that each Coloradan counted is worth $880, or approximately $4.27 billion per year.
So now you know how the money is allocated, and how much we, as a state, stand to gain… but do you know why Colorado needs it, and which Coloradans need it the most? Almost everyone utilizes at least one of the vital programs funded by federal dollars, or knows and cares about someone who utilizes one.
As of 2008, it is estimated that our state population has grown to over five million people. Per the American Community Survey (ACS), there are at least 492,000 Coloradans over the age of 65, 44.5 percent - 45.7 percent of whom live alone. It’s easy to imagine that Colorado’s health and senior services are essential to many of these people.
Of Colorado’s more than 620,000 families with children, 12.6 percent - 13.4 percent live below the poverty level. This includes between 181,156 and 194,196 children under the age of 18. Many of these families rely on programs such as food stamps, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and other health services just to survive.
In 2009, 15 percent of the financial aid provided at Colorado’s state colleges and universities came from the federal government, a significant number considering the rising cost of higher education. For many students and families, college is just not an option without financial aid- making an accurate count in 2010 extremely important to them.
Libraries in cities and towns across the state provide safe, reliable learning and recreational opportunities. Unfortunately, during the recent economic downturn, many Colorado libraries have been forced to cut hours, services and staff, and in some cases, close their doors altogether. Because their funding relies in great part on Census data, this is a perfect example of how an accurate Census count helps our communities.
These are just a few examples of how ‘valuable’ an accurate census count is to Colorado. The best part is how easy it is for you to help Colorado get the money it needs. The 2010 Census questionnaire is the shortest in history with 10 simple questions, and can be completed in less than 10 minutes.
Participating in the Census is a constitutional requirement, but more importantly it’s the patriotic thing to do. Completing and returning your census questionnaire is like writing a check to your community, so please do your part. Watch for the questionnaire arriving in your mailbox or at your home in March. Complete it, return it and… Be Counted!
