2010 Census - Vital to Our Future

In March 2010, more than 130 million addresses across the nation will receive a census form. One of the shortest census forms in history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes only 10 minutes to complete. Completing your census form is easy, important and safe. Your participation is essential to ensuring a brighter tomorrow for our community.

Required once every 10 years by the U.S. Constitution, the census will count everyone in the United States, both citizens and noncitizens. Census data are used to reapportion the U.S. House of Representatives, re-district each state and determine the distribution of the Electoral College. Census data also directly affect how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to state, local and tribal governments. Census data are critical in determining locations for new hospitals, improving schools, building new roads, expanding public transportation options, creating new maps for emergency responders and much more.

By participating in the census, you can help create a better future for you and those important to you. Complete and return your form when it arrives. To learn more, visit 2010census.gov.

The U.S. Census is sending advance letters to most (90%) households before the questionnaire packet to announce the forthcoming request to complete the census form. The letter asks people to be on the watch for the package when it comes and verifies that the upcoming request will be a legitimate one from the official agency conducting the 2010 Census.

Here’s what you should know about the 2010 Census:

It’s easy. One of the shortest census forms in history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. The individual in whose name the housing unit is rented or owned should complete the form on behalf of every person living there, both relatives and non-relatives.

It’s important. Census data are used to reapportion seats in Congress and ensure proper district representation in state and local governments. Information from the census helps determine locations for child-care and senior centers, new roads, hospitals, schools and community centers.

It’s safe. By law, the U.S. Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

Finally, the most efficient way to respond to the 2010 Census is to complete the form as soon as it arrives and return it in the postage-paid return envelope. Census workers will visit households that do not return forms to take the count in person.

By the way, the city of Parma, Ohio's 2000 census mail back return rate was 83% United States final response rate was 67%. We can lead the way again!

What is the American Community Survey (ACS)?

The Census Bureau only mails ACS questionnaires to approximately 1 out of every 40
households during the year, thus many people have not heard of this survey. Here are answers
to the questions respondents ask most frequently. In addition, an ACS Question & Answer Brochure is available to download. The document includes call center information.

1) What is the ACS?
The ACS is part of the 2010 Decennial Census Program. It is a survey that is sent to a small
percentage of our population on a rotating basis. These data previously were collected
only in census years in conjunction with the decennial census. Since the ACS is conducted
every year, rather than once every ten years, it will provide more current data throughout
the decade.

The ACS is conducted under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and
193. The Census Bureau may use the information it collects only for statistical purposes.
Title 13 requires the Census Bureau to keep all information from all respondents strictly
confidential.

2) I've never heard of the ACS. Is this survey authorized by the government of the
United States? Is the survey legitimate?
Yes, the ACS is a federal survey conducted under the authority of Title 13, United States
Code, Sections 141 and 193. Response to this survey is required by law (Section 221
of Title 13). The Census Bureau may use the information it collects only for statistical
purposes. Title 13 requires the Census Bureau to keep all information about respondents
strictly confidential. Any Census Bureau employee who violates these provisions is subject
to a fine up to $250,000, a prison sentence up to five years, or both.

3) Do I have to answer the ACS questions?
Yes. Response to this survey is required by law (Section 221 of Title 13). Respondents
are required to answer all questions on the ACS to the best of their ability. Your answers
are very important because they represent the answers of many other similar households
in your community. The data that you and others provide in response to this survey are
required to manage or evaluate federal and state government programs. If you submit an
incomplete form or provide data that are unclear, the Census Bureau may contact you by
phone or in person to obtain or clarify the missing information.

4) Can you remove my address from the ACS sample?
No. The validity of sample data would quickly deteriorate if selected households could
request that another household be selected because they didn't want to participate.
However, the Census Bureau tries to keep the number of households in the sample as small
as possible in order to limit the cost of the survey and reduce the impact on respondents.
An address will not be included in the ACS survey more than once in a five-year period.

5) Why am I getting phone calls from the Census Bureau Staff?
In order to collect the required information, the Census Bureau uses mail, telephone calls
and personal visits to collect the ACS data. First, the Census Bureau sends a pre-notice
letter to let households know that they will soon receive a questionnaire. Soon after the
questionnaire is mailed, a postcard reminder is mailed. In order to improve response, a
replacement questionnaire is mailed to non-respondents about three weeks after the initial
questionnaire was delivered.

If the Census Bureau does not receive a completed questionnaire after the replacement
questionnaire is delivered, the case is referred to one of three call centers in Jeffersonville,
IN, Hagerstown, MD, or Tucson, AZ. Since many people work during the week, the
telephone interviewers call non-respondents in the evening and on weekends. If the Census
Bureau is unable to reach an address by telephone, a field representatives may be sent to
the address to complete the interview in person.

6) I am unable to respond because of my age and poor health.
The Census Bureau tries to assist where possible with respondents in difficult situations.
However, response to the ACS questionnaire is required by law. If it would be easier for
constituents, they may call the Census Bureau toll-free on 1 (800) 354-7271 and complete
the questionnaire over the phone. If they are not able to complete the questionnaire, a
relative or other trusted individual may be asked to help.

7) Why does the Census Bureau ask such detailed questions on the ACS?
The ACS questionnaire asks detailed questions because the Census Bureau is required
to collect specific information for Federal and state government programs. For example,
long-term care providers and community planners use information about disability to
help them decide where to locate services and facilities. Federal and state government
transportation planning agencies use journey-to-work information for roads and public
transit development. You can find Fact Sheets that explain why the Census Bureau asks
each question on the ACS website.

8) The government already collects a lot of this information. Why does the Census
Bureau ask for this information again?
Although other government agencies collect some of the same information, the Census
Bureau cannot use it for several reasons. First, the Census Bureau cannot obtain all of the
required data from administrative records. Second, administrative records do not contain
the data for everyone. Third, data may not be usable because of differences in collection
periods or definitions. In addition, the ACS was designed to provide up-to-date information
for federal and state agencies. Administrative records usually are not as current as the data
that the Census Bureau collects.

The Census Bureau is prohibited by law from sharing any of the information it collects with
any other government agency.

9) The ACS questionnaire took longer than 38 minutes to complete.
The Census Bureau estimates that for the average household, the ACS form will take about
38 minutes to complete, including the time for reviewing the instructions and answers.
Since this is an estimate, it will not hold true for every household that receives the survey.

10) What are the penalties if I do not respond to the survey?
Both Title 13 and Title 18, United States Code, provide for monetary penalties for failure
to respond. Title 18, U.S.C., Section 3551, et seq., the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984,
establishes uniform penalties for all federal crimes. Title 13 U.S.C., Section 221, makes
it a misdemeanor to refuse or willfully neglect to complete the questionnaire or answer
questions posed by census takers and imposes a fine of not more than $100. This fine is
changed by the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 from $100 to not more than $5,000.

The Census Bureau is not a prosecuting agency. Failure to provide information is not
likely to result in a fine. The Census Bureau staff work to achieve cooperation and high
response rates by helping the public understand that responding to the ACS is a matter
of civic responsibility, and prefers to encourage participation in this manner rather than
prosecution.