Get those forms filled out!

The Census 2010 campaign is nearing the end of its tabulation of 1.89 million homes in the nation; all household forms must be filled out and mailed back in by early April.

Once Census workers receive all of the forms they will chart the data.

Final numbers will be used to issue $400 billion annually to respective areas in the U.S as well as proper apportionment of Congress.

Funds will be awarded to schools, hospitals, transportation projects, roads, job-training programs and emergency-response tools.

By May 1, for people who do not send their forms back in, Census workers will start going door to door to get numbers.

Media Specialist for Census KY James Barbour stressed the importance of mailing forms back in. According to Barbour, residents will be fined up to $5,000, if they do not fill it out.

“The 10-question form is the shortest decennial census since the country’s first,” Barbour mentioned, “since the country’s first commissioned by the U.S. Government in 1790.”

Most in Grayson County have felt the form was very simple to understand, and that it did not take too much time to complete it.

Elder Wealth Management employee Valerie Farris was glad to oblige when it came to filling out the information.

“I have already sent mine back in,” Farris said. “It was a very easy process. I think the Census is very important; it helps us get government dollars. Small communities like ours, it would be very beneficial.”

Walmart employee Andy Logsdon felt the entire process was better done this way than door-to-door contact.

“I got it in the mail,” Logsdon said. “It was a simple 10 questions. I received post cards in the mail before and after. It was a lot easier than someone coming by the house. I understand why they need this information. It helps with grants for schools and other things.”

Rite Aid employee Jeanetta King has not received her form yet.

“I don’t think I have gotten one in the mail yet,” King mentioned, “but as soon as I get it, I will fill it out. I think it is very important what the Census does.”

To ensure that the public is aware of importance of mailing back the 2010 Census questionnaire when they receive it, the Census Bureau is spending about $1 per person on our combined promotion and outreach efforts. It costs just $.42 cents to mail back the census form in a postage paid envelop. It costs taxpayers $25 per person to send a census taker door-to-door to collect the same information if they didn’t mail it back. Outreach efforts are heavily focused on increasing the number of households to mail back their form when they receive it.