Dutchess County issued the following announcement on Sept. 15.
With approximately two weeks left in the critically important 2020 Census count, Dutchess County has bested its 2010 self-response rate in the 2020 census. While response has been strong in some areas of the County, officials are urging residents to complete the census, particularly in lower response areas, to ensure all localities are accurately represented.
As of Sunday, September 13th, 65.8 percent of households in Dutchess County have responded to the census online, by phone or by mail, just exceeding the 65.7 percent response for the 2010 census. Census workers are now out in the field going door to door to finish the count, which ends on September 30. However, residents don’t have to wait for census field workers and can fill out the form at My2020Census.gov or by calling 844-330-2020 for English or 844-468-2020 for Spanish.
“Considering the challenges that COVID-19 and some other obstacles have presented, we are grateful to the people who have taken the time to fill out their census,” said Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro. “It only takes few minutes, and your personal information is kept confidential.”
Every 10 years, as required by the Constitution, the U.S. Census Bureau undertakes the count. The County Executive noted the final numbers will determine how federal funding gets divided across the country; lower numbers could cost Dutchess County and communities millions of dollars in federal aid over time. That includes funding for health care, road repairs, schools, and libraries. Additionally,
Census data is also used to determine the number of seats in Congress each state receives, and congressional and legislative lines will be redrawn based on these numbers.
Some towns, including East Fishkill, LaGrange and Wappinger, have had strong response and are already over the 70 percent self-response mark. Several other localities are fast approaching that benchmark and topping their 2010 rate. Other areas, including the City of Poughkeepsie, the Towns of Amenia, North East and Washington, have been experiencing lower self-response rates. The Complete Count Committee, established last year by County Executive Molinaro, has been working with local officials and the U.S. Census Bureau to raise awareness and ensure people are counted in these communities.
To see census self-response rates town by town, go to https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates.html
“Clearing our 2010 self-response mark is an important milestone, but there are a still of lot of people who need to counted,” County Executive Molinaro said. “We have a couple weeks left to make these numbers climb. Make sure your friends and neighbors know how important this count is to your community. Remember, you count, so be counted!”
For more info about the 2020 Census and Dutchess County’s Complete Count Committee, visit DutchessNY.gov/Census2020
Original source can be found here.
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