ORLANDO, Fla. — The results of the 2020 Census could have major political and financial consequences for the next 10 years.
So far, the data shows Orange County lagging behind neighboring counties in response rate at 64%.
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By comparison, Seminole County leads the way in Central Florida with a 73% completion percentage.
Census officials say one of the biggest challenges they face is in convincing people it doesn’t take long to complete the survey.
Many people are also simply not aware of the impact census data can have on their communities.
98.4% of households have been counted in the #2020Census. Thank you to everyone who has responded, our workforce, and our nearly 400,000 national and community partners. https://t.co/D1tCsi3dnH
— U.S. Census Bureau (@uscensusbureau) September 29, 2020
For example, census data determines how many representatives a state will have in congress for the following 10 years.
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It also factors into how much federal funding communities can get for things like roads, schools, and social programs.
“Without the accurate count of the population, we’re not able to serve as many as we really need to,” said Lavon Williams of Orange County’s Census Committee.
Census data can also determine how much funding Central Florida could receive for transportation projects, big and small.
Even private businesses use census data to determine whether there’s a market for their product in a certain area.
Residents can fill out their census survey either online or over the phone with the Census Bureau.
The current deadline to complete the survey is Oct. 5.
Cox Media Group
