Have you returned your 2010 Census form?  The statement on the front of the envelope really caught my eye. “Your response is required by law.”

The Founders of our country had a bold and ambitious plan to empower the people over their new government.  Their plan was to count every person and to use that count to determine representation in Congress.

The US Constitution empowers the Congress to carry out the census in “such manner as they shall by law direct”.

The 2010 questionnaire is one of the shortest in history and comes very close to the length and type of questions asked in 1790.

The US government distributes the state’s fair share of over $400 billion each year for various programs based on the population of the state.  Funding for education, health, public services, and infrastructure projects are determined by population.

The number of US representatives from each state is determined through the census.  Alabama currently has 7 representatives with Congressman Robert Aderholdt representing our area of District 4.

The promotional and outreach efforts to encourage everyone to return the form costs about $1.00 per person and $.42 to mail.  If you do not return the form, it will cost $25.00 per person to send a census taker door to door.

Your telephone number is on the form to save the costly visit if the form is not filled out properly.

To date, DeKalb County has returned an estimated 22% of the forms.  To insure our fair share of the more than $4 trillion over the next 10 years, please return the 2010 census form as soon as possible.