In March 2010, every household across the nation will receive a census form. Required once every 10 years by the U.S. constitution, the 2010 Census will count every person living in the United States.

Local Funding

A lack of participation can result in our community receiving less federal funding and less access to services and resources than we might otherwise have received. $400 billion per year in federal funding translates to $1,400 per person, per year in the form of services and improvements.

Local Representation

An accurate count helps to ensure that the people in this community are fairly represented in all levels of government. Census information is used to determine how many representatives there are at the federal and state levels.

Personal Privacy

Many people express concern about the safety and confidentiality of information they put on the form. Federal law protects your identity and the information you give the Census Bureau. Your cooperation and trust is fundamental to a complete count.

Their promise to protect the confidentiality of your information is guaranteed by Title 13 of the U.S. Code, which is the law making it a crime with severe penalties to abuse your privacy. Be assured that private information is never published and that it is against the law to disclose your name, address (including GPS coordinates,) social security numbers and/or telephone numbers.

The collected information is to produce statistics that are used by many people like businesses, schools and local food banks. Your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court. All Census Bureau employees take the oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both.

Take 10 and Mail it Back

The 2010 census form is one of the shortest in history; it asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Remember to mail it back in the stamped self-addressed envelope by the April 2010 date.

During census 2000, about 72 percent of households across the country mailed back their forms by the April 2000 cut-off date. I challenge our local communities to beat that this year.

Jim Haggerton
Tukwila Mayor