Census must be a priority

The federal government will use the results of next year’s national census to distribute nearly $400 billion to states and municipalities, based on the population count. Basically, the more people there are, the more money they get.

For that reason, every state and city should be interested in counting as many of their residents as possible and reducing the inevitable undercount. Unfortunately, California's state leadership doesn’t see things this way, or at least that’s the way it seems.

The federal government pays for the operation while states mount the campaign to promote participation. Ten years ago California invested $25 million to get out the message to as many Californians as possible about the importance of being counted. This year, the 2009-10 state budget for the census is just $2 million.

That amount is laughable and reflects an official apathy in getting the future funding California deserves for the next 10 years based on its numbers. The financial crisis has forced hard decisions, but devoting less than 10% of the funds spent a decade ago will do long and costly harm to the state.

The impact of this lack of resources is worse when considering factors further complicating next year’s headcount. At the federal level, the 2010 census has internal problems that virtually guarantee it will not be as accurate as the 2000 census. At the same time, the current economic problems with home foreclosures, an increase in homelessness, and the mobility caused by unemployment further complicate the population count.

State authorities have tried to recruit the private sector, including foundations, to conduct the outreach campaign, but they also lack the needed funds. Ultimately, it is up to Sacramento to provide the resources since it will be one of the main beneficiaries of the future funds. In this case, the proper investment would bear fruit for 10 years, but today’s emergency is clouding tomorrow’s vision: to save millions now, we are sacrificing hundreds of millions in the near future. The census must be given the importance it really deserves.

The federal government will use the results of next year’s national census to distribute nearly $400 billion to states and municipalities, based on the population count. Basically, the more people there are, the more money they get.

For that reason, every state and city should be interested in counting as many of their residents as possible and reducing the inevitable undercount. Unfortunately, California's state leadership doesn’t see things this way, or at least that’s the way it seems.

The federal government pays for the operation while states mount the campaign to promote participation. Ten years ago California invested $25 million to get out the message to as many Californians as possible about the importance of being counted. This year, the 2009-10 state budget for the census is just $2 million.

That amount is laughable and reflects an official apathy in getting the future funding California deserves for the next 10 years based on its numbers. The financial crisis has forced hard decisions, but devoting less than 10% of the funds spent a decade ago will do long and costly harm to the state.

The impact of this lack of resources is worse when considering factors further complicating next year’s headcount. At the federal level, the 2010 census has internal problems that virtually guarantee it will not be as accurate as the 2000 census. At the same time, the current economic problems with home foreclosures, an increase in homelessness, and the mobility caused by unemployment further complicate the population count.

State authorities have tried to recruit the private sector, including foundations, to conduct the outreach campaign, but they also lack the needed funds. Ultimately, it is up to Sacramento to provide the resources since it will be one of the main beneficiaries of the future funds. In this case, the proper investment would bear fruit for 10 years, but today’s emergency is clouding tomorrow’s vision: to save millions now, we are sacrificing hundreds of millions in the near future. The census must be given the importance it really deserves.

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