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Item O1BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: Oct. 21, 2009/Key West Division: BOCC —Comm. Murphy Bulk Item: Yes _ No X Department: DISTRICT FIVE Staff Contact Person/Phone #: Donna Hanson, 453-8787 AGENDA ITEM WORDING: A short presentation from Rafael De La Portilla from the United States Census Bureau discussing the importance of the 2010 Census and how the Board of County Commissioners can support the effort to count all the residents of Monroe County. ITEM BACKGROUND: The Census Bureau is gearing up for the 2010 Census and is reaching out to State, County, and Municipal Governments to provide information to its citizens about the upcoming census. There will be significant temporary employment opportunities with the Census Bureau in 2010 such as Census takers, which would certainly benefit our local economy. PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: N/A CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: N/A TOTAL COST: $0.00 BUDGETED: Yes No COST TO COUNTY: $0.00 SOURCE OF FUNDS: N/A REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH Year APPROVED BY: County Atty OMB/Purchasing Risk Management DOCUMENTATION: Included X Not Required DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM # PRESENTATION TEXT I'd like to take this opportunity to briefly inform you about a topic, which will directly impact all of us: Census 2010. The US Census Bureau is required by the Constitution of the United States of America to conduct a count of the population nationwide, including all 50 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico and all other US territories. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, both citizens and non -citizens . The Census count has been occurring every ten years, as mandated, since 1790. The last decennial census was conducted in 2000. The 2010 Census mission is to count every person residing in the United States, to count them once and count them in the right place. The US Census count will be delivered to the President of the United States in December 2010. More than $400 billion per year in federal and state funding is allocated to communities (That's more than $4 trillion distributed over a 10-year period), and decisions are made on matters of national and local importance based on census data, including healthcare, community development (such as where to build roads, schools, job training centers, etc...), housing, transportation, social services, employment and much, much more... With billions of dollars for these projects at stake, an incomplete count could mean your County misses out! The Census Bureau is working with state and local governments, businesses, faith -based and community organizations across the country, to make sure everyone receives, completes, and returns a census questionnaire. The questionnaire contains only a few simple questions and takes just a few minutes to answer and return by mail. Census forms will be mailed out in March and residents are expected to return them by April 1, 2010: Census Day. During Census 2000, Monroe County's final mail response rate was 51%. The national average was 67%. With your effort and the set up of a Complete Count Committee, we're targeting to increase the Monroe County mail response rate by at least 5% to 56%. Our past experience shows that a Complete Count Committee is one of the most effective means of involving a team of community leaders in the census and establishing the importance and credibility of the census in local communities. It can serve as a united voice, here in Monroe County, from your county government, businesses, community -based and faith -based organizations, educators, media and others, that will allow the 2010 Census message to reach a broader audience, providing trusted advocates who can spark positive conversations about the 2010 Census. State, County and City governments across America are already appointing Complete Count Committees, to ensure everyone is counted and we urge Mayor Neugent and the Board of County Commissioners to announce the Monroe County Complete Count Committee selections soon. It's important to note that Census 2010 is SAFE for everyone! The Census Bureau protects information that identifies respondents or their households and ensures that that data will not be released or shared with anyone for 72 years. No names... No Social Security Numbers... No addresses... No telephone numbers... It's the Law! All Census workers take a lifetime oath to protect confidentiality and violating the law is a federal crime. The Census Bureau uses your information to produce statistics; your personal information cannot be used against you by any government agency or court. Period. 2010 Census is committed to bringing jobs to your community. The Census Bureau will hire hundreds of thousands of people nationwide for temporary census employment. By recruiting applicants in your community, you will help boost your local economy. Our entire Region will have 57 Local Census Offices in operation in the next couple of weeks, including the Homestead Local Census Office, which will serve your county and the immediate surrounding areas. All job applicants must be tested for consideration for employment and our next wave of testing to help staff the Homestead Local Census Office is happening right now. Job postings and electronic versions of Practice Tests are available online at www.census.aov . Needless to say, a census is an enormous undertaking! Your help is crucial in this endeavor. With your assistance, the Census Bureau can accomplish the nation's goal of conducting an accurate, cost-effective 2010 Census. As elected leaders of the Southernmost County, your support matters. You can encourage your constituents to participate, ensuring they get their fair share of government funding, census jobs and Congressional seats. Partner with us and ensure your constituents have an active voice in their future. Census 2010: It's Safe. It's Easy. It's Important. It's In Our Hands to achieve a complete and accurate 2010 Census!