The 2020 Census will take place April 1. Not only is the census easy and safe — it is important that everybody be counted.

“In the State of Kansas, approximately $6 billion comes into the state each year based off of the census count,” Emily Kelley, U.S. Census Bureau said.

According to Kelley, the census is important to everybody because it is used in determining the annual distribution of more than $675 billion in federal funds back to tribal, state and local governments, in the redistricting of state legislative districts and in forecasting of future transportation needs for all segments of the population. It also determines areas eligible for housing assistance and rehabilitation loans, assists federal, tribal, state and local governments in planning and implementing programs and services and emergency response, and it helps in designing facilities for people with disabilities, the elderly and children.

The top five programs which the census affects are Medicaid, federal direct student loans, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicare Part D and highway planning and construction.

“Hopefully, you will see something here that will speak to you, somebody you love or somebody in your community,” Kelley said to those gathered. “This is your why. This is what you have to get passionate about.”

Kelley said it is important to complete and return the census form so the government can determine a community’s needs so it can be better served.

She noted the consequences for not answering the census will last a decade since the survey is taken every 10 years.

Kelley discussed implementation of the 2020 Census Sept. 25 to 16 Ellsworth County residents gathered in the basement of Ellsworth’s J.H. Robbins Memorial Library for the first meeting of the Ellsworth County 2020 Census Complete Count Committee.

“I’m glad to see such a big group here tonight,” Kelley said. “There are some communities where we get only two or three people who are interested.”

Attending the meeting were Gary Everett, Kermit Rush, Justin Lindsley, Jon Halbgewachs, Curt Glaser, Peter Solie, Susan Kriley, Darcy Hubka-Vopat, Machelle VanTrump, Tami McGreevy, Debbie Kootz, Leland Francis, Gerry Gebhardt, Chuck Crawford, Kate Schiermeyer and Scott Moore.

Kelley leads the 25-member partnership outreach program for Kansas and Oklahoma.

“Our job right now is to reach out to communities all across the nation to prepare communities for the upcoming census,” she said. “I’m really excited to be here doing this work to make sure Kansas has the resources it needs for the next 10 years.”

"In the State of Kansas, approximately $6 billion comes into the state each year based off of the census count."
Emily Kelley
U.S. Census Bureau

The job of the complete count committee is to be the face of the census in Ellsworth County.

“You are the trusted local voices in your community,” Kelley said. “You are basically census ambassadors in your community. You are the people that other people in your town will turn to for information. They recognize you, they know who you are and what you do for your community. People will listen to you when you talk to them about the census.”

Kelley said complete count committees have been determined as the most effective way to reach people and inform them about the census.

“We’re paying you to go out and talk to your communities,” Kelley said.

Kelley said the authority to conduct the census comes from the U.S. Constitution.

“Article One, Section Two mandates we do a census every 10 years,” she said.

Everyone will be counted and the information provided will remain confidential and safe — and will not be provided to law enforcement.

This year, for the first time, the census can be responded to on-line in addition to by phone or by mail. Response on-line or by phone are the preferred methods.

The report of the population count will be delivered to the President of the United States by Dec. 31, 2020 so apportionment can be taken.

She noted people will be invited to respond to the census. Ninetyfive percent of American households will receive the census form by mail the week of March 9-12. It will arrive in a sealed envelope with a unique code that is tied to that particular residence. People with post office boxes will receive their census forms delivered to their residence in person.

Kelley said census officials will visit with the warden at Ellsworth Correctional Facility between January and February 2020 to discuss how to proceed in counting all the inmates at the prison on the census.

College students will be counted where they go to college, not in their hometowns.

In May 2020, the census will being a follow-up response operation, Census representatives will be sent door-to-door to collect census information from those who did not respond previously.

Data collection for the 2020 census will be complete in August.

Kelley said 4,500 part-time, temporary, census employees are needed in Kansas for the 2020 Census. People interested in working for the Census must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver’s license, pass a federal background check and have reliable transportation. Wages are between $13 and $17 per hour, depending upon the location. These employees will work between 10 and 40 hours a week and receive 58 cents per mile for mileage.

A nationwide recruiting effort is set for Oct. 21.