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VAIL VALLEY, Colorado — Each Vail Valley resident that doesn't fill out a 2010 U.S. Census form could cost the county $826 per year — a lot of money for such a short questionnaire.
Local U.S. Census officials met Wednesday to talk about the need for more workers and the need for everyone in the county to participate in the Census.
Kris Aoki, Eagle County's Census director, said more than $400 billion gets distributed to localities based on the Census. That's money that could be used for a variety of things, like building a community center or money for local services, she said.
Aoki said everyone, from seasonal workers to illegal immigrants, should fill out the Census form.
“If you're here illegally, please take a form — we still want to count you,” Aoki said.
Matt Earle, the Eagle County School District representative at the meeting, is helping local Census officials get through to people through local students. Aoki is a firm believer that children can help spread the word to their parents about the importance of the Census.
Earle is arranging for Aoki and other Census officials to speak at school assemblies and in classrooms, specifically to reach out to Spanish-speaking students whose parents might not realize what the Census is all about or might be afraid to answer questions because they're not legal citizens.
“The Census is entirely confidential,” Aoki said.
Sean Koenig, the town of Vail's Census representative, said he's hoping for a higher response than in 2000. He said that Vail's low response rate at 34 percent was likely because there are so many second-home owners there, but the number still seems low.
He also wants the procrastinators out there to know that not answering the 2010 Census form, which is just 10 questions and take about 10 minutes to complete, costs taxpayers more money. The more times a worker has to reach out to a resident to get forms filled out, the more it costs, he said.
Avon's Census representative, Jennie Koenig, wants people to realize what's at stake if they skip filling out the form — $826 per person, per year.
“Especially in these economic times, the (data gathered) from these forms is so important,” Jennie Koenig said.
The county is having a tough time filling the Census jobs, which are temporary, part-time jobs. Pay starts at $16 an hour and field workers get mileage reimbursement at 50 cents a mile.
“The Census Department is desperate for workers in Eagle County,” Aoki said.
Community Editor Lauren Glendenning can be reached at 970-748-2983 or lglendenning@vaildaily.com.
Local U.S. Census officials met Wednesday to talk about the need for more workers and the need for everyone in the county to participate in the Census.
Kris Aoki, Eagle County's Census director, said more than $400 billion gets distributed to localities based on the Census. That's money that could be used for a variety of things, like building a community center or money for local services, she said.
Aoki said everyone, from seasonal workers to illegal immigrants, should fill out the Census form.
“If you're here illegally, please take a form — we still want to count you,” Aoki said.
Matt Earle, the Eagle County School District representative at the meeting, is helping local Census officials get through to people through local students. Aoki is a firm believer that children can help spread the word to their parents about the importance of the Census.
Earle is arranging for Aoki and other Census officials to speak at school assemblies and in classrooms, specifically to reach out to Spanish-speaking students whose parents might not realize what the Census is all about or might be afraid to answer questions because they're not legal citizens.
“The Census is entirely confidential,” Aoki said.
Sean Koenig, the town of Vail's Census representative, said he's hoping for a higher response than in 2000. He said that Vail's low response rate at 34 percent was likely because there are so many second-home owners there, but the number still seems low.
He also wants the procrastinators out there to know that not answering the 2010 Census form, which is just 10 questions and take about 10 minutes to complete, costs taxpayers more money. The more times a worker has to reach out to a resident to get forms filled out, the more it costs, he said.
Avon's Census representative, Jennie Koenig, wants people to realize what's at stake if they skip filling out the form — $826 per person, per year.
“Especially in these economic times, the (data gathered) from these forms is so important,” Jennie Koenig said.
The county is having a tough time filling the Census jobs, which are temporary, part-time jobs. Pay starts at $16 an hour and field workers get mileage reimbursement at 50 cents a mile.
“The Census Department is desperate for workers in Eagle County,” Aoki said.
Community Editor Lauren Glendenning can be reached at 970-748-2983 or lglendenning@vaildaily.com.
