Editorial: An Opportunity You Cant Miss

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When Census Bureau Director Robert Groves noted last week that some areas are lagging behind the rest of the country in mailing back their 2010 Census forms, it was bad news for Chicago and underrepresented communities.

With Census Day on April 1, it was no April Fools joke that Chicago has one of the lowest rates of mail participation. Nationally, 50 percent of households have mailed back their forms so far. But in Chicago, the mail participation rate is significantly lower, at 36 percent. In 2000, 58 percent of Chicago households returned their census form by mail. The national rate in 2000 was at 72 percent.

Returning the forms is far too important for the issue to be taken lightly. While Illinos struggles with a $13 billion fiscal deficit, the data collected on the Census gauge economic as well as societal growth and needs. A major factor in improving transportation, education, healthcare, housing, emergency services, the census is also a tool for marketing, business expansion and job opportunities. Despite being one of the shortest forms in American history, comprised of 10 questions that only take about ten minutes to answer, completing the 2010 Census, particularly for underserved communities, simply makes good sense.

Not only will it help determine the distribution of more than $400 billion in funds to local, state and tribal governments but a complete and accurate census count will ensure that your state and community get their fair share of Congressional seats and community services.

On top of that, when a person fails to return a form, a census taker has to visit every household that doesnt send it back. That process comes at a significant cost to taxpayers while the emphasis on encouraging mail participation is a practical one.

For every percentage point increase in mail response, taxpayers will save an estimated $85 million in federal funds. Those funds would otherwise be required to send census takers to collect census responses in person from households that don't mail them back. After the 2000 Census, the Bureau was able to return $305 million in savings to the federal Treasury because mail rates exceeded expectations. Those are results taxpayers can count on and a move the Bureau wants to repeat.

The Census Bureau is urging communities nationwide to take charge of their census mail participation rates. Since the possibility of receiving federal dollars depends on it, the only way to get your fair share of the funds is to stand up, be counted and fill out your census form.

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