Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Census process gets rolling

Nationwide count is required every 10 years


By JASON KAUFFMAN
Express Staff Writer

Wendy Jaquet

The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting Idahoans to help with the 2010 census.

Required every 10 years by the U.S. Constitution, the census is a count of every person residing in the United States, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.

The count includes people of all ages, citizens and non-citizens alike. At a time when the country's out-of-work ranks are growing, it's estimated that the 2010 census will create hundreds of thousands of temporary jobs across the nation.

The Census Bureau has already completed a first round of hiring. The next batch of hires will begin this fall. Those people will begin working in early spring 2010.

Various field positions will be available as part of the census count. They include address canvassers, earning $10.50 per hour, crew leaders, earning $12 per hour, crew leader assistants, earning $10.50 per hour, and field operations supervisors, earning $13.50 per hour.

Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

Those interested in applying for a position later this fall should call (888) 861-2010. Information is also available at www.census.gov.

So, why are the findings of the census important?

Every year, more than $300 billion in federal funds is awarded to states and communities based on the census data, according to the Census Bureau.

The census data help determine locations for things like schools, roads, hospitals and child-care and senior centers, the Census Bureau states. Businesses also use census data to locate supermarkets, shopping centers, new housing and other facilities.

The census determines how many seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as the boundaries of legislative districts.

In Idaho, urban growth is leading to more legislative districts in places like the Treasure Valley, which includes Boise. This is in turn leading to changes in more rural districts, said state Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum.

"The rural districts will be bigger," said Jaquet, who represents District 25 covering Blaine, Camas, Lincoln and Gooding counties.

She said that following the census, Idaho's redistricting committee will meet in 2011 to begin redrawing the boundaries of legislative districts.

The 2010 census questionnaire will ask a person's name, relationship, gender, age and date of birth, race and whether the respondent owns or rents his or her home.

The Census Bureau does not release or share information that identifies individual respondents or their household for 72 years.

Jason Kauffman: jkauffman@mtexpress.com




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