Census forms arriving in mailboxes this week

Census forms began dropping into mailboxes across the U.S. this week.

But some students are still asking the question: “Where should I be counted?”

Lynn Turner, senior partnership specialist team leader at the Detroit Regional Census Center, said students are counted “where they are most of the time.”

The Census, mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, takes place every 10 years to adapt congressional districts to the shift in population. It also helps allot federal funding for projects such as schools and roads.

“We’re talking about $400 billion in services,” Turner said. “We want people to fill it out as soon as possible.”

Students and residents have an opportunity to ask census officials questions about the form this week.

The Census Road Tour will stop in Mount Pleasant today at the intersection of Main and Broadway streets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday in front of the Bovee University Center.

A question assistance center will be set up at Mount Pleasant City Hall, 320 W. Broadway St., starting Friday. Union Township also will have a question center at the township hall, 2010 S. Lincoln Road, starting Friday. Hours for the township’s question center are 1 to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Thursday.

How to fill it out

Students living on campus will complete their census form differently from students living off campus. Students on campus are required to fill out a census form individually and not with the others they live with.

Steve Smith, Central Michigan University’s director of public relations, said census officials will be on campus to answer questions for students after Thursday.

“We are establishing a location in the UC where census officials will be on hand,” he said. “Students that have questions on their forms can get them answered.”

The Census Bureau will follow up and knock on doors of unresponsive households, Turner said. Beginning May 1, workers will go around to households that did not return their forms to gather information.

For the students who leave shortly after the semester ends, Turner said the bureau will go around before May and knock on doors within a 1-mile radius of campus that have not responded.

“We’re trying to get ahead of the game,” she said. “By April 24, or maybe earlier, they will get a knock on their door.”

City, township goals

Mount Pleasant began a campaign to push for residents to fill out the census in January, making stops at CMU basketball games, as well as paid advertising to encourage people to participate.

The city is trying to keep its population above 25,000, said Jeff Gray, the city’s planning and community development director.

“We’re trying to make sure we have dollars for things like the downtown-campus connection,” he said during a presentation at the Feb. 22 City Commission meeting.

Mount Pleasant’s population in the 2000 Census was 25,946.

Union Township also is poised to see a jump in population and funding since 2000. The 2000 population of Union Township was 7,615, but township officials say they expect that number to exceed 10,000.

“We’re hoping to stay above the 10,000 mark,” said township clerk Peter Gallinat. “The last 10 years, there has been a lot of multi-family units (built).”