It’s time again for the U.S. Census! The Census is held every 10 years and gives lawmakers, government administrators, emergency planners and other organizations a snapshot of our population. This helps them make decisions such as how much we need in transportation funding, how many schools we need, and what emergency plans will best serve our community, to name a few. U.S. Representatives in Congress are allocated to each state based on population, so the Census also determines how many Representatives our state should have in the U.S. House. Did you know Arizona is poised to gain another seat?

If you’ve completed the Census before, you’ll see some changes this year. The U.S. Census Bureau won’t be sending the forms to every household, as they’ve done in the past. Instead, you’ll get a code in the mail and a website address that you can log-on to and fill it out online. If you prefer, you’ll also get a phone number that you can call and do it over the phone. Either way, it’s simple and convenient. If you prefer to fill out a paper Census, that option will still be available to you. Only one person in the household needs to fill it out and mail it back in the pre-paid return envelope. 

Whichever way you choose to participate, be assured your information is protected by federal law. Your data, compiled with information from other homes, is used only for statistical purposes.

For those who haven’t completed the form, Census workers will begin to follow-up in person starting April 30, 2020. The last day to submit your information is June 30, 2020. 

For more information, go to 2020census.gov