During the month of March, each resident of the United States should receive a census questionnaire in the mail. Only ten questions long, this investment of ten minutes by each resident to fill it out and return it could mean big money coming back to local communities.

For the 2000 Census, Foster City achieved a 77% rate of return. Local officials are making every effort to meet and beat that level in the 2010 census.

April 1, 2010 is being designated as Census Day in California. All residents are encouraged to return their census questionnaires by that date. After that, Census workers will come knocking on doors, hoping to count everyone in California, regardless of age, resident status, or home ownership.

Federal formulas use the census count to determine how over $435 billion in funding is distributed among the states. Federally funded programs in California include hospitals, schools, job training centers, senior centers, emergency services, and public works projects. For each person not counted, California could lose up to $3,000 in federal funding per year.

The data collected by the census also helps determine the number of seats California has in the U.S. House of Representatives. For the first time in our 160 year history, California may lose an existing congressional seat if we do not have a complete count in 2010.

Every 10 years since 1790, the U.S. Census has conducted a nationwide count of every resident in the United States. The U.S. Census is required by the Constitution, and serves as an important tool for allocating resources across the United States.

All across the state, people are taking a stand to be counted on April 1, 2010. Make yourself a part of California’s history. Be Californian. Be Counted.