It may be tempting, when you get the envelope marked United States Census 2010, to just toss it in the trash – just another piece of junk mail. But the truth is, filling out the census is very important for many reasons.

Darlene Gooch, chair of the local Census Committee, said when she first got involved, she wondered why we do the census and questioned the point of it. As she got involved, she realized just how important the census is.

“This is important,” Gooch said, “because it helps leaders know if you need more or bigger roads, or more schools, or senior centers. It means more money, maybe, from federal funds.”

“We keep fussing about there’s no money to do anything with; this is our chance to maybe get more money,” Gooch added.

The census results can also affect the number of representatives a state has in Congress. If not everyone fills it out, a state could lose a representative. But if the census shows an increase in population, the state could gain a representative.

The 2010 Census questionnaire has been mailed out and should arrive at Logan County households this week or next. One form should be filled out for each household and it doesn’t take long to fill out.

“There are only ten questions,” Gooch said, “and it only takes like ten minutes to fill it out.”

After filling it out, just put it back and the postage-paid envelope and send it back.

“If the people of Kentucky complete the census form and return it quickly, then we won’t have to go out, knock on doors, and collect the information,” said William W. Hatcher, regional director for the U.S. Census Bureau.

Gooch explained that after the questionnaires have been processed, census workers will go door-to-door to those homes that did not return a questionnaire.

“Returning completed questionnaires saves taxpayer money and increases the likelihood of a full count. That translates into political power and needed federal funding for the state,” Hatcher said, noting that for every one percentage point increase in mail returns of the census form nationwide, taxpayers save about $85 million in cost of sending census takers door-to-door to collect census information.

Gooch said filling out the census is safe as federal law protects personal information on the form. While the general information is used for statistics, the individual information is kept secure.

Title 13 of the U.S. Code prohibits sharing personal data with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. Census employees are sworn to secrecy for life and face a fine of up to $250,000 and/or five years imprisonment for violating the oath.

“This information is kept for 70 years before it is ever released,” Gooch explained.

No information is given to telemarketers or any business or corporation either.

“If you don’t want somebody knocking on your door, fill it out,” Gooch added.

April 1 is Census Day, the reference day for the population count. Every person living in a residence should be listed on the confidential census form, including relatives and nonrelatives, as of April 1. People should be counted where they live and sleep most of the time. You should not wait

until April 1 to return the census form but return it immediately upon receipt. Census takers will begin collecting information from households that did not return the form May 1.

For help in completing the census form, call the toll-free Telephone Questionnaire Help Line at 1-866-872-6868. Spanish speakers can call 1-866-928-2010. Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs) also are opening across the state to assist people. For more information, go to www.2010census.gov.