NC Counts Coalition prepares for 2020 Census
The Census takes place in April 2020, and conversations are already starting to make sure North Carolina gets a fair representation.
The N.C. Counts Coalition is holding a meeting Friday morning to prepare for next year.
Census numbers are key in determining how to distribute federal money for things like schools and roads.
They also determine how many House seats North Carolina gets in Congress.
Stacey Carless, executive director of NC Counts, said that every person matters.
“North Carolina receives about $16.2 billion a year based on the Census,” Carless said. “That breaks down to about $1,600 per person. So, if you think about that, if we miss one person in every county, that is a lot of money for our communities.”
The U.S. Census Bureau has said a controversial question could prevent some households from participating in 2020. It would ask whether respondents are legally living in the United States.
NC Counts said the information participants provide is supposed to be safe and confidential.
