Census questionnaires will be mailed out the latter part of this month.

The good news is that with only 10 questions, the 2010 Census questionnaire is one of the shortest in history and will take just 10 minutes to complete.

According to Steve Murdock, director of the Census Bureau, “One of the primary goals of the 2010 Census is to increase the national mailback response rate. This not only reduces the cost of the census, it also increases the accuracy of the data as well.”

“Census Day” is April 1, 2010. Questionnaire responses should represent American households, as they exist on that day.

Citizens are reminded that participation in the census is required by law.

More detailed socioeconomic information will be collected annually from a small percentage of the population through the “American Community Survey (ACS).” The ACS is mailed out on a rotating basis and will replace the long form for the 2010 Census.

As it now stands, the Census Bureau must submit state population totals to President Barack Obama by December 31, 2010.

Furthermore, an individual’s census data is strictly confidential. It is illegal for the Census Bureau or its employees to share personal information with any other government agency – not law enforcement, the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, immigration officials, or welfare agencies.

No court of Law, not even the president of the United States, can access an individual’s responses to the census questionnaire.

Every decade since 1790, the United States Census Bureau has conducted a constitutionally mandated census to determine the number of people living within the United States and its territories. The census includes people of all ages, races, and ethnic groups – both citizens and noncitizens.

In essence, the census is done for the purpose of apportioning the United States House of Representatives.

It is crucial that everyone be counted in the 2010 Census because the information gained from the national survey is also used to:

.. Distribute over $300 billion in federal funds and even more in state funds.

.. Attract new businesses to state and local areas.

..Forecast future transportation needs for all segments of the population.

.. Plan for hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and the location of other health services.

.. Forecast the future housing needs for all segments of the population.

.. Direct funds for services for people living in poverty.

.. Develop rural areas.

.. Draw school district boundaries.

.. Establish fair market rents and enforce fair lending prices.

.. Understand labor supply and consumer needs.

.. Provide genealogical research.

.. Draw federal, state, and local legislative districts.

.. Develop adult education programs.

.. Facilitate scientific research.

.. Plan future government services.

.. Provide evidence in litigation involving land use, voting rights, and equal opportunity issues.

.. Distribute medical research.

.. Generate more accurate data that media outlets can trust and share with the public in articles and reports.

For general information about the 2010 Census, contact the Atlanta Regional Census Office at 1-404-730- 3832 or visit the following website: www.2010census.gov.