Census set to hit Lynchburg-area mailboxes

Lynchburg-area mailboxes already are filling up with the sign that another decade is coming to a close.

The 2010 U.S. Census forms are making their way into homes across the country.

The official countrywide tally determines representation in Congress, and also is a key indicator in how more than $400 billion in federal funds is spent on infrastructure such as schools, bridges and tunnels, emergency services and hospitals.

Lynchburg census efforts are based out of a census office in Roanoke, and manager Tom Story stressed the need for residents to fill out the forms and return them promptly.

“Anyone who doesn’t fill out a questionnaire by April 5 will be put on a list to be visited by a census taker by May 1,” he said.

In the area overseen by the Roanoke office, about 70 percent of residents usually turn in the mailed census forms by early April, and do not require follow-up visits.

That’s a bit better than the national average of 66 percent, he said.

That said, Story added the local bureau office estimated about 100 workers would be needed to follow up with Lynchburg residents who do not fill out the forms and return them on time.

He acknowledged that many are wary of the census effort.

“People don’t really know what’s in the questionnaire,” Story said, which has been causing some worries about how much the government will know about residents by their answers.

The 10-question form does not include queries about a resident’s income, employment or education, though those questions were included on long-form questionnaires in 1990 and 2000. Those questionnaires were sent to randomly selected residents, but will not be used this year.

Story said the most personal information asked this time around is the names of the residents at the dwelling place and whether the residence is owned, rented or lived in rent-free.

Ownership information is used to monitor the general state of the economy and administer housing programs that could influence homeowner rates.

Other questions regard the number of residents, age, gender, race and a telephone number for clarification on particular questions.

Racial information is important in determining congressional redistricting, as well as whether highway and public facilities signs should be bilingual.

Story said some have expressed concern that, since the census does not verify citizenship, non-citizens and illegal aliens will make up a percentage of those represented in government.

“We just do the counting and we count everybody,” Story said.

Story also stressed that all personally identifiable information on the forms would be kept strictly confidential.

“Everyone who works at the census bureau takes an oath that they will not disclose any personally identifiable information.”

He also said there is a rarely enforced penalty that includes a fine for refusing to fill out a census form.

He said though residents may not face prosecution for failing to comply with the census, he believes everyone has a responsibility to be counted.

“It’s important because it impacts funding, voting power and gives community leaders data from which to make local decisions about how to invest funds they get from the government.”

He added, “We really look upon it as a person’s civic responsibility.”

Media General News Service contributed.