Starting today, Mississippi citizens will begin receiving invitations in their mailboxes to complete the 2020 U.S. Census. MPB's Kobee Vance reports the data will be essential to State and local governments.
The 2020 US Census will help determine how much federal money Mississippi will receive, how many US representatives the state will have, as well as help lawmakers shape the state's districts. Giles Ward is Chairman of the Mississippi Complete Count Committee.
He says the census will be accessible through multiple platforms.
"A high percentage of all of those that respond to the census in 2020 will do so using the online capabilities. But even if they don't do that, they can respond by telephone, or they can respond with a paper questionnaire that can be mailed back to the US Census Bureau."
Mayor Chuck Cariker of Tunica is promoting the census on social media and is supplying handouts through the city's water bills. He says the town relies heavily on a block grant that receives funding based on census results.
"The Community Development Block Grant can be used for wastewater repairs, facilities and lift stations. It can be used to expand water lines. It's got a wide array of things that that particular program can be used for."
According to the census website, Invitations will begin arriving in the mail today with instructions on how to complete the census form. Residents are asked to complete the survey before April 1, and responses are required by federal law. Households that don't respond will be sent reminders, and Census takers will follow up with households still not responding-- to collect responses in person.
State officials say every citizen not documented on the census could cost the state five thousand dollars each year.