Census to end: MS may lose $B

The United States Census Bureau announced Aug. 3 it would be shortening the census deadline by one month. The census deadline will end Sept. 30 instead of the original deadline of Oct. 31. The Census Bureau made the decision in order to expedite the process of data collection to meet the end-of-year deadline. The City of Oxford “has the lowest response rate in Mississippi of cities over 5,000 people, and 63rd out of 63 cities,” Mark Levy, director of special projects at Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce, said. “Lafayette County has the lowest response rate of all counties in the 22 county Northern Congressional District and is 63rd out of 82 counties in the state.” The loss of a 31 days could mean billions of dollars to Mississippi. States like Mississippi have a higher percentage of hard-to-count areas and populations, which benefit from in-person follow-up. The Census Bureau has planned for bureau employees to knock on doors to follow-up with people who have not responded to the census. This will begin August 11 and end on Sept. 30. The Census survey takes 10-minutes and can result in up to $5,000 funding per person, he explained. The Census may be completed online, mail, or by telephone. The 2020 Census marked the first time a questionnaire has been completed online. The low- level broadband internet has negatively impacted Mississippians. The low response rate will impact the state for the next decade, according to Giles Ward, a former state senator. For more information about the Census or to respond to the Census visit https://my2020census.gov/. (Source: Oxford Eagle 08/06/20) Gulf Coast Note: As of Aug. 5, the national percentage of Census responses: USA (61.3%). Minnesota is #1 with a 72.4% response rate. The four Gulf Coast states’ rankings/percentage of responses: Alabama ranked #30 (60.7%); Florida #32 (60.1%); Mississippi #40 (57.9%); and Louisiana #45 (57.2%). DeSoto and Madison counties in Mississippi have response rates above 69.5%. Cities: Tupelo 65.4%; Columbus 59.8%; Iuka 57.2%; Vicksburg 56.9%: Jackson 56.7%; Meridian 53.7%; Starkville 52.5%; Oxford 41.7%; and last but not least Sumner 11.3%. In Alabama counties, Mobile 59.2%; Tuscaloosa 58.7%; and Pickens 56.6%.