DENVER - Following reports that the 2020 census will move forward without the inclusion of a citizenship question, Gov. Polis issued the following statement:
“This is a victory for democracy and the rule of law. Now that it is clear the census will not be used as a political weapon, let’s focus on getting the most accurate count we can. There is too much funding at stake for our schools, roads, emergency services, and economic opportunity,” said Governor Jared Polis.
There is approximately $880 billion in federal funding allocated across the United States based on census counts. In Colorado, this equates to approximately $13 billion annually or an estimated $2,300 per person according to a recent study. Programs funded by census dollars include Head Start programs, section 8 housing, public transportation, road rehabilitation, Tier 1 grants for educational agencies, and emergency food and shelter.
Colorado has formed a State Complete Count Campaign (CCC) that is focused on education, awareness, and motivation to participate in the first-ever online census. The Census is also available in 13 different languages and can be filled out online, via the paper form or responding by phone. The new online format saves taxpayer dollars. While it is the Census Bureau’s responsibility to count everyone in the country, it is Colorado’s local communities who will benefit the most by an accurate count.
To learn more, go to the Colorado Census 2020 website to get additional information, fact sheets, and resources for communities and organizations to use.
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