FREEHOLD, NJ – With Census Day just four weeks away, Monmouth County is gearing up to make sure every person residing in the county is counted.
To help with that effort, Monmouth County officials have established a Complete Count Committee comprised of community stakeholders who will help spread the word about the 2010 Census. Census officials are working out of a regional office in the Monmouth Executive Center at 100 Willow Brook Rd. in Freehold. The office serves Monmouth and northern Ocean counties.
“We are making an effort to get the word out about the census,” said Freeholder Amy A. Mallet, whose office is heading up the county’s census effort this year. “It is critical that every person living in Monmouth County be counted. With help from our community leaders, everyone, including those on the fringe of society, will be counted.”
Why is being counted so important? It is necessary to ensure congressional representation. Every 10 years, the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are apportioned among the states based on population relative to the population of the United States. The states then create districts from which representatives will be elected to serve in the House.
Ideally, each district would have an equal population. States can gain or lose seats at each decennial census. Districts are redrawn in each state after each census to reflect population changes.
“If the numbers are underreported it could mean losing a seat, thereby reducing our representation in the House of Representatives,” Mallet said. “Monmouth County’s role in this year’s count is important. We need to build awareness at the local level.”
“The census is important not only for congressional representation, but because distribution of federal funds for a wide variety of projects ranging from social services for people of all ages to transportation and infrastructure are determined by census statistics,” Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry said. “Everyone must be counted to ensure that Monmouth County gets its fair share.”
Since the first count in 1790, the census has changed dramatically. The most notable change from just 10 years ago is the number of questions on the census form, which has been simplified. There are no longer 60 questions; now there are just 10.
Some people fear the data will be used against them, or for identity theft,” Freeholder John P. Curley said. “But the census does not ask about social security numbers, income levels or citizenship. The census is safe, and confidentiality is protected. There is no reason not to participate.”
Of particular concern this year is properly counting our senior citizens, especially those who also winter in Florida.
“Census officials say that if you should list your residence wherever you spend the most amount of time,” Freeholder John D’Amico said. “For many of our ‘snow birds,’ people who winter in warmer climates, their primary residence is still New Jersey and they should say so on their forms.”
Forms will be mailed to every household in March and are due back by Census Day, which is April 1. Beginning in May, census workers will conduct direct outreach to homes and residences that fail to return the questionnaire.
“The importance of filling out the census forms cannot be overstated,” Freeholder Robert D. Clifton said. “New Jersey already sends more tax dollars to Washington than it receives in aid. Therefore, every person counts and should be counted. Too much is at risk.”
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