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County Executive's Office

Maximizing Citizen Participation Goal of Complete Count Committee

October 08, 2009
Joshua Wescott, (608) 267-8823 Rachel Strauch-Nelson, (608) 266-4611
County Executive

County Executive Falk, Mayor Cieslewicz Appoint Committee to Make Sure Everyone Counts in 2010 Federal Census

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz announced today they’ve created a committee to help encourage public participation in the upcoming 2010 federal census.  The Complete Count Committee has 20 members and represents a diverse cross-section of community and civic leaders across the county.  In addition to officials from town, village, city, and county governments, the committee also includes representatives of local schools and organizations like Centro Hispano and United Asian Services.

“By bringing these many bright minds together from all corners of our county, this committee will help make sure people understand the importance of and participate in the upcoming census,” County Executive Falk said.  “If we all take a few minutes for the census in 2011, together we can make sure our county receives its fair share of federal funding and that only helps local taxpayers.”

“The Census defines who we are as a city, determines our representation at state and federal levels of government, helps us direct services in our community and ensures we get our fare share of federal funding,” Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said. “We are committed to working together to ensure the most complete count possible.”

The first meeting of the Complete Count Committee will be tonight, (Thursday October 8th) at 5:30 p.m. in room 309 of the City-County Building.  It’s expected the group will meet a handful of times between now and the start of the federal census in spring. 

The federal government performs a census every ten years.  It is important to communities because each individual counted accounts for about $800 per year in federal funding.  Census figures are also considered in certain state funding formulas.

It’s estimated that nearly 80% of Dane County households responded to the initial federal census mailing in 2000, making it one of the best responding counties in Wisconsin.  The Dane County Complete Count Committee hopes to raise this figure in 2010 and again be of the best responding counties in the nation. 

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