You may have noticed a big push by government agencies, organizations and even individuals encouraging participation in the 2020 Census. Despite the standard Census day being April 1, which has long since past, we find that the Kansas Response Rate (as of the time of this post) is sitting just below 65%. While this is a healthy 4% more than the national response rate, it does raise concern. But why?
To answer this I refer you to this snippet of an email I received from Senator Jerry Moran last month:
Quick Census Facts
The Census is used to determine many decisions in your community over the next 10 years. Here are a few ways the census impacts your community:
Responding to the 2020 Census now prevents Census Bureau employees having to knock from door-to-door during COVID-19.
You Can Still Respond
April 1 was Census Day, but it’s not too late to complete the 2020 Census! You can still respond to the census by mail, phone or online. When filling out the Census, you should count yourself at the place where you are living and sleeping most of the time as of April 1, 2020.
You can find answers to your questions here. Learn more or take the census online at 2020census.gov.
When Responding, Count Everyone Living With You
When filling out the census, count everyone living with you as of April 1, 2020 – including roommates, young children, newborns, renters, etc…
If someone such as a college student is just living with you temporarily due to COVID-19, they should be counted where they ordinarily would be living on April 1, 2020.
As of the 2010 census, there were 2,589 people, 936 households, and 721 families in the city. A large portion of Library funding is provided through the Central Kansas Library System and is based on these numbers. In fact, 90 people on that census made the difference in the classification of our library which is currently a Service Center II. For more information on this, please see CKLS's 2020 System Grant--Basic Library Grant. Should we come up shy on that number, falling below 2,500 people it could mean drastic cuts in our funding. Notice that the difference in Basic Library Grant would have been $1,900 (over 18%!!)
So, this is a simple librarian's plea, please, fill out the 2020 Census, and help ensure the viability of our hometown library and the services and programs we offer.
Thank you!
To answer this I refer you to this snippet of an email I received from Senator Jerry Moran last month:
Quick Census Facts
- A count of the population is constitutionally mandated every 10 years and administered by the U.S. Census Bureau.
- Participating in the Census is required by law, but your information is kept confidential.
- If 1% of the Kansas population is uncounted in the 2020 Census, the state could miss receiving over $6 billion over the next decade. Kansas will lose over $2,000 in federal funds for each person who is not counted.
- Lawmakers and business leaders use the data from the census to make critical decisions about where communities need new schools, clinics, roads, and services.
- The results can impact a community’s ability to attract and retain businesses.
- The census determines political representation at the state and federal level.
- You can respond to the census by mail, phone (844-330-2020) or online at 2020census.gov.
The Census is used to determine many decisions in your community over the next 10 years. Here are a few ways the census impacts your community:
- The census informs federal funding for more than 100 programs, including school lunches, highway construction and education. Some of these programs support specific initiatives for rural areas.
- Voting and congressional districts are adjusted or redrawn based on the census results. After the last census, eight states gained seats in the House of Representatives.
- Businesses rely on the data to evaluate population trends and growth projections for where to put new stores, restaurants, factories or offices, as well as where to recruit employees and what products or services to offer.
Responding to the 2020 Census now prevents Census Bureau employees having to knock from door-to-door during COVID-19.
You Can Still Respond
April 1 was Census Day, but it’s not too late to complete the 2020 Census! You can still respond to the census by mail, phone or online. When filling out the Census, you should count yourself at the place where you are living and sleeping most of the time as of April 1, 2020.
You can find answers to your questions here. Learn more or take the census online at 2020census.gov.
When Responding, Count Everyone Living With You
When filling out the census, count everyone living with you as of April 1, 2020 – including roommates, young children, newborns, renters, etc…
If someone such as a college student is just living with you temporarily due to COVID-19, they should be counted where they ordinarily would be living on April 1, 2020.
As of the 2010 census, there were 2,589 people, 936 households, and 721 families in the city. A large portion of Library funding is provided through the Central Kansas Library System and is based on these numbers. In fact, 90 people on that census made the difference in the classification of our library which is currently a Service Center II. For more information on this, please see CKLS's 2020 System Grant--Basic Library Grant. Should we come up shy on that number, falling below 2,500 people it could mean drastic cuts in our funding. Notice that the difference in Basic Library Grant would have been $1,900 (over 18%!!)
So, this is a simple librarian's plea, please, fill out the 2020 Census, and help ensure the viability of our hometown library and the services and programs we offer.
Thank you!