The Census Is Important To YOU!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

The importance of returning the census form you received several weeks ago is being stressed at all levels of government. And it can’t be too overemphasized.

The numbers that are compiled will serve as the benchmark for each entity: city, county, state and legislative district for the next 10 years.

For Gravette, and whichever town you call home, as well as for Benton County, if you reside in an unincorporated area the bottom line is the $$$$$$$$$$s.

Federal and state programs will use the figures for the next ten years as the dollars are doled out based on population.

County sales tax revenues are also prorated to cities and the county based on their population numbers.

Someone, somewherecould probably put the pencil to the various receipts during the past ten years and discover how many thousands of dollars were missed because some people were not counted during the 2000 census.

Let’s not let that happen this time. You count. Not just as an individual citizen but you count because you, your town or county is cheated out of what is yours if you fail to respond with the census information.

The form this year is surprisingly simple, not at all like that monstrosity we had to fill out ten years ago.

Remember. The individual information will be kept confidential for more than 70 years; only statistical totals are used.

So do yourself and your city and/or county a favor - Be counted. You really do count.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 04/21/2010