Recently, 120 million American households received their census forms from the federal government. As usual, tens of millions of people are griping about it. Some don’t want to complete the forms at all and others object to certain questions.

The government has two uses for census data – political representation and allocation of funding.

Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 of the US Constitution requires that the government conduct the census every ten years to determine the number of members needed in the House of Representatives and to allocate those seats among the states. It does not state that it must be the only use for census data. It does not prohibit the government from asking other questions for the census.

Census data are used to draw the boundary lines for Congressional districts, as well as state and local legislative and voting districts, and for zip codes. After completion next year, the Census Bureau will determine whether each state gains or loses House seats. Then, state redistricting commissions will redraw the boundaries within their states accordingly. Many people living at the edges of those boundaries will be assigned to new districts for various government purposes.

Because Pennsylvania is losing population, the state lost two Congressional seats after the 2000 census, including one in Allegheny County. Florida gained population, and gained two seats in the US House of Representatives. The 2010 census will determine whether we lose more seats, and which states will gain those seats.

Federal, state, and local governments use census data to determine how to spend their money. With more than $400 billion of federal funding at stake, state and local governments need accurate data to support their requests for federal funds. The greater population we can show, the more federal money we get. In 2009, 13% of Allegheny County’s operating budget - $99,116,623 – came from the federal government. Federal officials based that number on census data.

We spend that money on social and emergency services, education, transportation, public safety, job training centers, senior centers, roads, bridges, and other public works projects. And that spending creates JOBS. Education, poverty, disability, income, and genealogy statistics all come from the census.

The Census Bureau designates Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, & Westmoreland counties as the Pittsburgh Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area. The census collects social, economic, housing, and demographic information about the residents of the SMSA through the American Community Survey.  For example, in 2008:

• 5.2% of the SMSA population was age 5 or under. Accordingly, area schools received $53,340,317 for Head Start and other early education programs.

• 30.5% - nearly 1/3 – of housing was built prior to 1940. That means that the housing stock is aging rapidly and we may need funding for new housing soon.

• 76.3% of households used natural gas to heat their homes. That will affect public policy on utility prices, regulations, and availability.  Source

That data also determines state and local budgeting. Since 1994, Allegheny County and its municipalities receive half of the county sales tax. That’s the extra one percent on all taxable sales. That tax, administered by the Regional Assets District, totals more than $2.2 billion through 2009. RAD distributes that money to county-wide facilities and to all 130 municipalities, based on census figures.

So, enough about the numbers. There are quite a few rumors floating around about the contents of the questionnaire, the legality of the process, and the security of the information. You can see those discussions, and the truth, at factcheck.org.

Privacy is always an issue in census years. Federal law requires that any census employee who discloses personal information be subject to a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both. You won’t find any personal information about anyone on the 2000 census official results. See for yourself.  The law permits identifiable census results to be public 72 years after it is collected. At that point, it is usually used for genealogical and other historical purposes.

The purpose of the census is to count everyone in the country, including the poor, the homeless, and those here illegally. It’s always been difficult to reach them, but we certainly can’t develop rational public policies without that information.

The race question is important to many people. Personally, I don’t like it. If our race is not supposed to make a difference in our lives, then we shouldn’t ask the question. And race is a social concept, not a biological one. There are 14 choices on the form for race, including “some other race”. Ten of them are actually nationalities, or combinations thereof. When asked, I always list my race as “human”. Those who favor the question claim that it can tell us whether we’re making progress in racial equality and equal opportunity. I’m not so sure. I suggest you follow your own judgment and conscience.

Nevertheless, we are expected to complete our census forms on Thursday, April 1, and return them by mail to the US Census Bureau.  If you don’t return your questionnaire, a census taker will probably appear at your door to question you in person. While we’re still using paper forms, the bureau is experimenting with Internet response for the future. That should be interesting.

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For more information

• US Census Bureau

• The 2010 US Census

•  2000 Census data

• American Community Survey

• Federal funds spent in Pittsburgh SMSA, based on census data, 2008
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From “Hidden History of the United States 2010 Calendar”, Progressive Magazine.

On March 22:

• 1980 – 30,000 people marched in Washington, DC against draft registration.
• 1983 – 16 people were arrested in a four-day cross-country demonstration against the shipment of nuclear warheads by train.