APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Everybody counts — that was the message Outagamie County leaders were sending Wednesday.
The Outagamie County 2020 Census Complete Count Committee joined the city of Appleton and the Boys & Girls Club of the Fox Valley to stress the importance of everyone’s response in the 2020 Census.
Starting next week, households across the nation, including Outagamie County, will receive 2020 Census invitations in the mail.
Officials want the public to know how important, easy and safe it is to be counted in the Census.
According to Outagamie County executive Tom Nelson, more than $675 billion annually is allocated, in part, using Census data.
He tells FOX 11 an accurate count of the population directly translates into funding for things like schools, roads, hospitals and emergency responders. It also affects voting maps.
“If we want our fair share, we need to make sure everyone is counted. It’s estimated that for every person who is not counted, we lose $1,400 per year, for the next ten years.”
Karen Nelson, city of Appleton Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, also wanted to ease the fear some residents have with answering questions for the 2020 Census
“We want to place an extra emphasis that some members of our community have been historically under counted out of fear. Do not be driven by fear.”
Officials say any information divulged to the Census, like citizenship status, cannot be used against them.
You can answer the 2020 Census questions online, by phone or by mail. It is offered in English and 59 other languages.
Leaders say they will not be calling households, you must call the number of the invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be collecting Census data, Nelson says you should not give it to them.
“Think about it like this: 10, 10, 10, easy to remember. Take ten minutes to complete ten questions and provide funding for ten years to Outagamie County. It’s as easy as that.”
The Census has been conducted every ten years, since 1790.
