Census deadline extended to October
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 years AGO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | May 1, 2020 12:07 AM
MOSES LAKE — The U.S. Census Bureau has extended the deadline to Oct. 31 for people residing in the United States to fill out and submit census forms. The extension was made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The count of all U.S. residents occurs every 10 years and has since the country’s founding.
The census counts all residents of the U.S. living in a household as of April 1, 2020. Census information is used to calculate how many representatives each state is allocated in the U.S. House of Representatives and to draw boundary lines for state and congressional legislative districts.
The uses for census data extend far beyond political representation. The federal government uses census data when allocating money for federal programs and in determining when and where federal programs are established.
For 2020, there is only one kind of form, the short form, which asks fewer questions than the long form Americans have seen in the past. The form this year asks who lives in the residence, who owns it or pays the rent, and the relationships of people living there. That includes people living in the residence temporarily, and it asks where those temporary residents normally live.
The census form asks the age, sex and race of all members of the household, and whether or not they are Hispanic. The form does ask for a telephone number, but the bureau does not ask for money, Social Security numbers, bank account or credit card numbers.
Census officials have mailed letters to Americans giving details about the process and asking them to respond, followed by four postcards as reminders. Both the initial letter and reminders have an identification number, but people can still fill out the census forms without it.
People are being encouraged to fill out the form online. A traditional paper form will be mailed to people who do not respond after the reminders are sent.
The online forms must be filled out all at once, since the online form can’t be saved. Respondents also have the option to phone in.
The last reminder was sent out earlier this week, and anyone who doesn’t respond in a timely manner will receive a paper form. Respondents still have the option of filling out the form online or by phone even if they receive the paper form.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
All Vantage Bridge lanes open for holiday travel – but expect delays
VANTAGE — The good news for Memorial Day weekend is that most road construction has been suspended from Friday through Tuesday morning. On the other hand, the weather forecast is for sunny skies, it’s a three-day weekend and it’s going to be busy out there.
No deficiencies in Wahluke School District audit
MATTAWA — An audit of the Wahluke School District didn’t find any deficiencies in the district’s federal program management or its financial reporting. It was the second straight deficiency-free audit for the district. Wahluke Superintendent Andy Harlow said that was due to WSD’s financial staff. “I continue to be impressed with (Gabriela) Chacon, our finance director, and her team’s hard work, growth and commitment to implementing and sustaining fiscal systems,” Harlow wrote in response to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald
Tentative opening date set for new Quincy Aquatic Center
QUINCY — Not only a new swimming pool but a new splash pad will be coming to Quincy this summer. Russ Harrington, Quincy parks and recreation director, said there are tentative opening dates for the new Quincy Aquatic Center and the park that includes the splash pad, although it may not be ready at the same time as the park. “We’re getting close,” Harrington said. The splash pad is one of the amenities in the new park at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and E Street Northeast. The park’s playground toys have been installed; Harrington said ground cover is the last piece for those toys, and it’s scheduled for installation within the next few days. The playground toys should be ready for use by June 1.