DECATUR, Ga.—The U.S. Census Bureau is required by the U.S. Constitution to conduct a count of the population every 10 years. The population totals also affect local funding and data collected in the census help decision makers know how your community is changing. Approximately $675 billion in federal funding is distributed to communities each year.
In 2015, an independent study was conducted by George Washington University identifying that each resident of Georgia is allotted $1,339 per year for services. As part of the education process, the county could receive $985 million per year over the next 10 years with a 100 percent response rate. In 2010, for the last Census count, DeKalb County had a 72 percent response rate and therefore, failed to benefit from $275 million worth of funding.
The governing authority of DeKalb County is committed to ensuring every resident is counted. On Feb. 26, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution put forth by Commissioner Larry Johnson to create a Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census.
The CEO’s office, each commissioner’s office and each municipality will appoint a representative to participate on the Complete Count Committee to help raise awareness and educate the residents of DeKalb County.
The goal of the Complete Count Committee is to ensure accurate Census data is collected which in turn will provide information critical for government programs, policies and decision making. For the first time, residents will be able to respond online, by phone or by mail.
Commissioner Larry Johnson was unanimously chosen by the Board of Commissioners to be the chair of the DeKalb County Complete Count Committee.
For more information, call 404-371-2425, or visit www.commissionerlarryjohnson.com.
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1300 Commerce Drive Decatur, GA 30030
