ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / March 22, 2000

LAPLACE – Stand up and be counted.

That’s what St. John Parish President, Nickie Monica wants from everyresident of the parish during the next month when the U.S. Census Bureaustarts counting heads all over the country.

“People have to realize the importance of getting the correct numbers,” said Monica. “If we fall short on our numbers, we lose out on money.”As an example, Monica pointed to the 1990 census where the state of Louisiana was under-counted by about 2 percent. As a result, the statelost out on more than $154 million dollars in federal funds.

The United States Constitution mandates that the federal government take a census of the country’s population every 10 years. The first officialcensus was in 1790.

Not only do the numbers help the government decide who gets what, but the census also determines representation in Congress and state legislatures. Sometimes, congressional district lines have to be re-drawnbecause of changing population figures.

“The census affects how we can fund our fire departments, police, schools and road construction,” said Monica.

The numbers in the 2000 census will determine how the government will distribute over $100 billion in federal funds.

This year, the Census Bureau will send out two types of forms to every household in the country. The short form has only seven questions and asksabout the number of people in the household, their age and race. It shouldtake 10 minutes to complete.

The long form will be sent out to one in six housing units. It has 27questions and asks questions about income, veteran status, number of rooms, in the house, education enrollment and other socio-economic detail. The Census Bureau says that the long form should take 30 minutesto fill out.

Both forms come with stamped envelopes to be sent back to the main office, which is Hammond for this area.

No matter which form one may receive, everybody should get a census form in the mail by April 1. Forms can be obtained at the main branch ofthe St. John Parish Public Library on Airline Highway in LaPlace, at theEdward Borne Memorial Branch Library in Edgard and at all the post offices.

One issue that bothers people about the census is privacy. A lot of peopleare afraid that all the information they give to the Census Bureau will be passed along to other branches of the federal government to be used against them.

By law, the Census Bureau cannot share responses with the IRS, FBI, Immigration, welfare department, or any other government agency for that matter.

“Answers are strictly confidential,” Assistant Manager of Recruiting Colleen Scott at the Hammond office of the U.S. Census Bureau said. “Allthe answers are used for statistical purposes only.””Besides, “Scott added, “this information cannot be released to anyone for 76 years.”For those who do not send in the forms, the Census Bureau sends out its employees to start knocking on doors and getting the information they need.

In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau is hiring people for this purpose right now. Scott said that anyone who wishes to help with Census 2000 can call 1- 888-325-7733 and get information on where they can apply. There arealso testing centers at the St. John Library main branch, the Edgard branchof the library, the JTPA center in Reserve and the Louisiana Job Service office in LaPlace.

Employees will not only help to gather statistical information on the St.

John Parish population, but will also go out to the rural areas of the parish and make sure everyone has the proper forms.

Right now, the population of St. John Parish is believed to be between40,000 and 45,000, but nobody is really sure. That is because in the 1990census the parish was under-counted and the final tally for St. John was39,000.

“In 1990, we used random sampling,” said Scott, “and we ended up with only a 58 percent response.”The Hammond office has spent the last two years mapping out all the houses in St. John Parish and they are sure that they will get a much moreaccurate count for 2000.

Of course it will help if everybody sends in their forms and cooperates with the Census Bureau.

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