Census workers collecting data for 2020 Census in Milam County
Milam County residents are asked to be aware that there are U.S. Census workers traveling throughout the county checking on residents and collecting data for the 2020 Census.
Milam County Sheriff Chris White warned that these persons will have identification on their person and a placard on or in their vehicle, designating them as such.
Data collection will end on Sept. 30 and the U.S. Census Bureau is encouraging everyone in Central Texas to respond between now and the deadline of Sept. 30.
Currently, Texas has a 79.5 percent of total response rate, which includes self-response and Nonresponse Followup (NRFU) operations. Milam County sits at about 44 percent of total response rate.
Milam County Judge Steve Young said it is very important for everyone in the county to complete the census form as it will help with funding for vital programs and funding for the county.
The Census Bureau said a complete and accurate count is vital to the state of Texas. If households are not counted, Texas could miss out on its share of hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding and it could also affect Texas’s apportionment in Congress.
Thousands of census takers are working in Texas to visit households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census.
In most cases, census workers will make multiple attempts at each housing unit to count residents in that household.
Census takers will be wearing masks and are trained in social distancing protocols and other health and safety guidance. If no one is home at the time of the visit, the census taker will leave a notice of visit, which includes information on how the household can self-respond to the census.
Even though census takers are working in the field, it is not too late to self-respond to the 2020 Census and limit the chances of a census taker visiting a person’s home.
People can respond online at 2020census.gov, by phone at 844-330-2020 (English), or by mailing back the paper form that was delivered to the household.
In addition to census takers in the field, the Census Bureau is using additional ways to collect responses to the 2020 Census. Census takers have been trained to call some households that have not yet responded and leave a voicemail if no one answers. The Census Bureau has also sent out a seventh mailing, which includes an additional paper questionnaire to households that receive mail at a physical address.
The Census Bureau has a statutory deadline to deliver apportionment data by Dec. 31, 2020.
For more information and for additional assistance, please visit 2020census.gov.
White also said that the Milam County Tax Appraisal Office is having their appraisers visit locations and/or check properties throughout Milam County as well. He said anyone with concerns over unidentified vehicles can contact the Sheriff’s Department.