FLINT -- The 2010 Census groundwork is underway in Genesee County, weeks after the US Census Bureau kicked off the major part of its campaign with a $2.5 million ad in the Super Bowl. Local officials want to get as many people counted as possible, amid fears over the millions of dollars that could be lost if population numbers come in too low.
“Schools, hospitals, job training, and public safety, we know that’s an issue right now in Flint,” said Genesee County Commissioner and Flint resident Brenda Clack of the issues connected to federal funding, and the census.
Census returns control more than $400 billion to be allocated in communities across the United States. Clack said Flint got between $40 million and $50 million last year, thanks in part to Census Bureau data, though American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars also came through. Congressman Dale Kildee said each resident counts for about $1,000 dollars. That means the county loses nearly $1,000 for every person not counted.
The census also affects the balance of power from the top down. The number of seats in Congress, and the appropriation of electoral votes per state all depend on the census.
"An industrial state like this needs good representation so we can present our case,” Kildee said. We presented our case for the auto industry and got some help for GM to come back,” he added.
Census forms will be mailed out on March 15. You can visit www.2010.census.gov for answers to commonly held questions.
