Marysville is looking to make sure every resident gets counted as part of this year’s federal census.
Beginning this week, the federal government will be mailing census forms to residents.
Brad Bodenmiller, director of Logan-Union-Champaign Planning Commission, was at Marysville City Council’s meeting Monday to talk about the census and its importance.
He said the census is a count of every person in the county. He said it is more than just a number though.
“Essentially, the count that we give is how the federal government distributes $675 billion of federal funding throughout communities,” Bodenmiller said.
He said federal program funding for things from free and reduced lunch programing to road and bridge improvement funding is based on census information.
Bodenmiller explained that based on information from the Ohio Census Advocacy Coalition, for each person not counted, Ohio loses $1,206 per year.
He said since the census is carried out once a decade, “the money that we lose if someone is not counted, would be lost for 10 years.
“The money doesn’t disappear, it would go to another state,” Bodenmiller said.
In addition to federal funding, the census determines the number of Ohio Congressional seats. Bodenmiller said that based on the census in 2010, the state lost a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Bodenmiller said that homes should have the information by the end of March. He said there will be a national push on April 1, to have people complete the forms. This year, homes can participate in the census by returning the forms in the mail. They can also respond by phone or online. Help for those wanting to complete the process online will be available at the public libraries in the county or the Bridges Community Action office, 232 N. Main St., Marysville.
Beginning in May, census employees will begin going to homes that have not yet participated.
“If you are like me, you don’t like people knocking on your door, you might want to take it online before then,” Bodenmiller said.
He asked council members and city officials to hand out informational cards and to encourage people to participate in the census, “wherever you might be going.”
Ron Todd, Marysville engineer, serves as the city representative on the Union County Complete Count Committee. He said the city is already reminding residents about census participation on utility bills and other outlets.
“We are out there trying to promote,” Todd said.
Mayor Henk Berbee questioned, “How do people feel about it?”
He said he wondered how, if answers are confidential, “How do they know to come to your door?”
Councilmember Mark Reams said the answers are not anonymous, but they are confidential, in that landlords, law enforcement officials and federal agencies like homeland security or the FBI, cannot access or use your personal info.
Berbee said he appreciated Bodenmiller’s efforts to get everyone counted. He said that even if a fraction of residents don’t respond, it could mean millions of dollars over the next 10 years.
Council member Aaron Carpenter said that beyond being the federal law, and a civic duty, “the census and proving you are an American citizen is very important.”