The Census: Want to Lose $100 Million?
The Census Bureau’s new TV ads say: “10 Questions, 10 Minutes, 10 Years.” All it really needs to say is $100 million. That’s how much it was estimated that Cook County lost in Federal funding over the 2002-2012 period due to undercounting in the Census. Illinois as a whole lost $193 million due to undercounting. That is because the data from the Census is the basis for the nationwide distribution of $400 billion in federal money for a multitude of programs. If state populations aren’t counted correctly, money can’t be distributed correctly.
While $200 million won’t solve the $11 billion state budget gap, at this point Illinois can use all the extra help it can get. And to get it, all the government wants from you is ten minutes of your time. Ten minutes to fill the out Census, and send it in. That’s it. That’s a lot of money for such a short time.
Data from the Census is also used to determine the allocation of Congressional seats, the development of public policy, and to ensure that districts are fairly drawn within states. It determines how many schools, hospitals, teachers, firemen and police we need. If you want more of a political say, complete the Census form. By filling out the Census, we increase our chances of having all the programs and services people count on.
It won’t cover all of Illinois’ costs, but its $200 million we don’t have otherwise. Make sure Illinois and your community gets all that they deserve. Fill out the Census and send it in. It’s worth at least $200 million.
