Bolivar: Hard-to-count area critical during Census 2010

From the Bolivar Commercial...

A local representative with the U.S. Census Bureau addressed the North Bolivar School Board Monday night about the census’ impact on the community.
Betty Petty, Census Bureau representative, explained to board members how money can be lost from incomplete population counts.
“We are in a hard to count area here,” said Petty. “Our people are not being counted and I’m talking specifically about everyone in the community.”
People who live in less accessible areas of communities are less likely to be counted in the census.
“We lose economic dollars and we know that in some of our communities people live in front of the street and have someone else living behind them in a separate house.”
Petty urged the whole community to get involved in ensuring all local residents are accounted for.
“Who knows our community better than the way we know it,” said Petty. “People need to get involved and tell somebody that they can call to get a job with the bureau and to make sure our people are counted.”
Petty said that many residents do not send the census forms back in because they get the idea the information they put down on the form will be distributed or made public.
“That is a myth, everything is confidential,” said Petty.
Employment with the bureau is still open for the up and coming spring census.
“That’s how we get money for our school districts and businesses,” said Petty.
According to the bureau census questionnaires will not be delivered to households until mid-March of 2010.
The last U.S. census administered was in the year 2000.
For more information about census jobs call 1-866-861-2010.