2010 Census complete count committee forms

In preparation for the April 2010 national census the Maricopa City Council unanimously approved a Complete Count Committee at their last meeting.

Assistant to the City Manager Paul Jepson presented the names of the 14 key community volunteers who have agreed to a yearlong process to help ensure that Maricopa will be accurately represented to regional, state and national agencies that rely on census data. The committee will remain active until Census Day, April 15, 2010.

Jepson will serve as the city liaison to the committee, organizing its initial meeting. At that time the committee will discuss goals, census training, meeting schedules and the selection of a chairperson, who will periodically report the committee’s progress to the council.

“I am excited to work with this enthusiastic group of people to ensure we have a complete count and receive the total amount of funding possible,” said Jepson.

Census data will determine the distribution of $300 billion in government funds on an annual basis ($3 trillion over a 10-year period). It will also guide area decision makers in regard to population growth and the need for additional roads, schools and hospitals. The data is the basis for redistricting and determining the number of seats each state has in Congress.

“I especially like the diversity of the committee,” said Mayor Anthony Smith. “If we aren’t having a complete count, we’ll suffer for that for years to come. The responsibility facing this committee is significant.”

An incomplete count locally means Maricopa will not receive its fair share of state and federal funds over the next 10 years.

The 2010 census will count residents of all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.

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