National census affects funding for County programs

March 11, 2010

Questionnaires for the 2010 Census should start hitting mailboxes this weekend, marking the beginning of an all out quest to find and count everyone in the United States.

"It's absolutely crucial that we count as many of our residents as possible," said Board of Supervisors Chairman John Vasquez. “We can’t afford to miss out on a single dollar that can be used for programs that protect the health and safety of everyone in Solano County.”

This constitutional requirement to conduct a census every 10 years has broad ranging impacts. The number of congressional seats is tied to the census as well as district boundaries for the State legislature and the County Board of Supervisors.  Funding for more than 140 programs is linked to census data, affecting the distribution of more than $400 billion in federal dollars. Census Bureau officials estimate that for every person counted $1,200 in federal funds goes to local agencies.

“In a down economy, a full census count is more important than ever before,” said County Administrator Michael D. Johnson. “Our residents can make a huge financial difference for Solano County by ensuring that they complete and return their census forms.”

Census-based funding impacts a wide range of local programs and services, including inspections of landfills, jail operations, medical care for low-income residents and foster care.  Federal and state dollars represented about 39 percent of the $836 million County budget adopted in June 2009.

The forms consist of 10 questions that officials estimate will take about 10 minutes to complete. Residents are encouraged to promptly return the survey.  In 2000, an estimated 67 percent of households in Solano County mailed back the survey.  That means Census workers had to go knock on the doors of the remaining 33 percent.

These follow-up visits are expensive in terms of personnel costs. Census officials estimate that for every percentage-point increase in the national mail-in response rate, the federal government saves $90 million. 

For more information on the 2010 census, go to www.2010census.gov.

Posted: March 11, 2010