Prince Frederick, MD – Every ten years the United States conducts a census of its citizens, determining seats in the House of Representatives, federal funding/taxes each state receives, and other information important to the functions of government. With a census quickly approaching in 2020, the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) received a briefing on how they can prepare for a successful and accurate census.

“We’re 315 days away from the 2020 census,” started Lee Osberry Jr., a Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau. Osberry’s goal of the presentation was to have the commissioners approve a draft resolution, creating a “Census 2020 Complete Count Committee (CCC) for the county.

The committee will consist of multiple organizations across the county, including the Board of Education, College of Southern Maryland, Social Services, and 16 others. Osberry, a resident of the county himself, expressed to the commissioners the importance of having county residents involved in and working with the census, increasing trust and response from the community.

“All the information gathered in the census, not just the numbers, is what is vitally important,” explained Commissioner Earl “Buddy” Hance [R-At Large], who learned of the importance of census during his tenure as the secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture (2009-2015). The census is used to “distribute over $675 billion federal dollars” to both states and local governments and helps provide information for grant applications. The count is also used to determine seats in the House and redistricting at all three levels of government (federal, state, and local). Aside from the benefits of an accurate census, the process is mandated by the U.S. Constitution (Article 1, Section 2) and has been since the adoption of the document.

Osberry explained that the county’s government and CCC need to educate people on how to complete the census in addition to safeguarding citizens from census scams. He went on to state that the census will never ask for personal information like a social security number and that the information collected by the bureau is kept private.

The 2020 Census will be the first to use the internet as a means for citizens to fill out the census. The initiative that “takes advantage of new technologies” is expected to help in a “rapidly changing environment.”

Commissioner Mike Hart [R-District 1] expressed his concerns with the county being overlooked when it comes to federal funds divvying out. Stating that the “big 3” (Baltimore, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties) tend to absorb the available funding. Osberry could not answer to how the funds were divided out but he reassured the commissioner that the importance stretches beyond funding.

Calvert has had a high response rate in the past, ranking first in Southern Maryland at 80% (Charles-77%, St. Mary’s 75%) in 2010. Some of the problem areas the county could face include children under five, seniors, and persons with a disability among other “historically undercounted groups.” The state loses $1,800 per person per year – $18,000 in the ten years till the next census – for every resident not counted, according to the bureau. Barstow, Chesapeake Beach, and North Beach rank among the highest low response rates in the county (ranging from 20.4-22.3%).

With Commissioner President Tim Hutchins absent from the meeting, the board approved the formal resolution, establishing the Calvert County CCC and formally identifying Jenny Plummer-Welker as the Calvert County Government point of contact.

April 1, 2020 will be Census Day when respondents will be able to fill out their census online, over to phone, or through a paper questionnaire.

If you have any questions regarding the census, visit the census website here. 

Contact Jerold at staffwriter@thebaynet.com.