Officials urge residents to complete census

By TOM KANE

MILFORD, PA — Census 2010 will shape Pike County’s ability to meet the needs of residents into the future.

“The county grew from a population of 43,000 to over 60,000 since the last census in 2000,” said Pike County Assistant Planning Director Mike Mrozinski. “Our growth was astounding. If this growth is not reflected in the 2010 Census, we won’t get a bigger representation in Congress and we won’t be able to access the federal dollars that are coming to us.”

Federal dollars for services like education, transportation, health care and job training are dispensed to communities based on the population count, he said. “Census numbers only give political representation to those who are counted,” he said.

The Commonwealth has 19 seats, representing 67 counties, in the U.S. House of Representatives. “The census figures also determine Pennsylvania’s annual share of more than $300 billion in federal dollars,” Mrozinski said.

The 2010 Census will actually be one of the shortest and simplest in U.S. history. It will ask around 10 questions, including name, sex, age, date of birth, origin, race, household relationships (address and names of those living in the house) and if a person owns or rents a home.

The census questionnaire does not ask about bank account information, salary or income, citizenship or immigration statues, nor request any social security numbers. By law, the U.S. Census Bureau cannot share an individual’s responses with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. This is to encourage illegal immigrants to participate in the census.

A questionnaire will be mailed to residents in March.

“If a person mails it back, no census taker will visit your residence,” Mrozinski said.