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Final Phase of Census 2010 Will Begin Saturday, May 1

Santa Fe – April 30, 2010- If you are one of the tens of thousands of people across the nation who did not return your Census 2010 questionnaire, expect a visit from a census taker. Starting Saturday, May 1, the Census Bureau will begin the final phase of Census 2010.

Census workers will be visiting households to help residents complete the ten-question form. Residents are reminded the Census is mandated to count everyone regardless of whether they are citizens or not.

All census takers will have an official badge with an emblem from the U.S. Department of Commerce and a tote bag with printed information. If residents have questions about the identification of the census taker, field staff or the enumeration process, they are encouraged to contact the local Santa Fe census office, (505) 216-9020.

Enumerators will not ask for any financial information, citizenship status or a Social Security number. All information collected will be kept confidential. All census employees take a lifetime oath to protect the information under penalty of federal law that includes imprisonment up to five years and a fine up to $250,000.

Residents are reminded that by completing the Census you are helping identify how $435 billion will be allocated annually in federal funding for services needed in all communities. Federal funding is used for hospitals, roads, schools and centers for employment, for seniors and for veterans. Data from the census is also used for political representation at the national, state, county and city levels of governments.

During the first half of the 2010 Census, 66 percent of all Santa Fe County residents returned the questionnaires they received in the mail or had been hand delivered.