The 2010 census is an effort to get an accurate count of residents in the U.S., but what is at stake is dollars and cents, East Valley leaders agree.

Starting the second week of March, question forms will be mailed out to East Valley homes with an April 1 deadline for response, according to Vianey Celestino, 2010 census Arizona media specialist.

"It is a big deal because the census, it decides the representation of the government," she said in a Jan. 6 phone interview. "It informs the community. It effects $400 billion of allocations to states, cities and towns."

With April 1 designated as "Census Day," Ms. Celestino hopes to get more than 65 percent of Arizona residents to participate in the initial mail-in response request.

"We are saving taxpayer money by answering our questionnaires and sending them back by mail," she said. "It is very important that everyone responds."

Ms. Celestino says the most probable change to come from the 2010 Census will be a new seat at Congress representing the interests of Arizona residents.

"The first thing is we are tying to get another seat on the congress. We will probably get a new seat," she explained. "So we can be heard at the national level."

New congressional seat or not, Ms. Celestino says federal funding is a direct result of the census.

"If we get some under-counts, we are going to lose those dollars," she said of federal- and grant-funding mechanisms based on population counts. "We need those dollars in the communities because of the economical situation."

A change this year is how the information will be gathered and how brief the form is, Ms. Celestino says.

"We are sending it in a prepaid envelope so they don’t have to spend money on the questionnaire," she explained. "There are only 10 questions and it takes only 10 minutes. It is just very basic information."

For the city of Chandler, the 2010 census means two things: representatives in congress and dollars and cents, according to Kevin Hartke, Chandler’s Complete Count Committee chairman.

"It really comes down to two words: representation and dollars," Mr. Hartke said in a Feb. 3 phone interview. "There are $400 billion that are annually distributed by the (federal government) based on population. We want to make sure the pie is accurate — meaning everyone gets counted."

Mr. Hartke says the city of Chandler is anticipating about $400 per person counted in the way of federal funding through state-shared revenues and grant dollars available to the municipality on an annual basis.

"Where the city will directly feel the influence is $400 dollars per person per year, which is allocated according to population," he explained. "That effects things like libraries, fire trucks and road construction ... really anything that has the potential for federal dollars that are population based."

But those dollars will not have an immediate impact on services provided by the federal funding allocations, Mr. Hartke explains.

"It is not like it is going to be 2011 and we are going to get a zillion dollars," he pointed out of the two- to three-year lag time for census results.

In 2000, the population of Chandler approached 175,000, according to Mr. Hartke. This time around, he anticipates that number to increase to about 250,000.

According to Mr. Hartke, the city of Chandler saw a 68 percent initial response to the 2000 census, but to improve on that number, he says areas of low response rates have to be addressed.

Mr. Hartke says the downtown area of Chandler had a low initial response in 2000. The square mile bordered by Alma School Road, Pecos and Chandler boulevards and Arizona Avenue is a key location for outreach efforts, he says.

"Our goal is to get the highest response as possible," Mr. Hartke said of trying to exceed a 68 percent initial response. "We have been doing a lot more outreach in those areas."

Efforts to contact tough-to-reach areas to count will be a future asset to the programs and services provided by the city of Chandler, Jennifer Morrison, Chandler’s Neighborhood Resources Division director, says.

"One of the key aspects for us is that (Community Development Block Grant funding mechanisms) are based on a formula derived directly from the census," she explained. "It can help us to maintain the supply of affordable housing in Chandler. Just a number of programs that benefit low- and moderate-income neighborhoods."

According to city and census officials, low- to moderate-income neighborhoods are typically the hardest to count, but could reap the most benefits from grant opportunities made possible through an accurate census count.

"The more people there are, we get an increase in funding," Ms. Morrison explained. "In the last year, our entitlement (to CDBG grant dollars) is about $2 million. So the entitlement can increase based on that number, especially in the area of Chandler where we have had a significant increase in population."

Ms. Morrison says a major focus of dollars attached to population tallies focus on maintaining the quality of life for residents.

"To maintain the quality of life in Chandler," she said of the overall goal of a good census count. "If our entitlement increases we can help more folks do housing rehabilitation to their homes. Eventually Chandler’s funding will increase."

Leah Powell, Chandler community development and diversity manager, says with the opportunity for more funding allocations from the federal government, census tallies will help the city direct its focus for future outreach programs.

"Those are all federal dollars that have a lot to do with low- to moderate-income neighborhoods," she said in a Feb. 2 phone interview of programs aimed at neighborhood revitalization and remodeling. "It also helps us to direct our programing in the future. So we know where to target our dollars."

Ms. Powell says a couple of things are in play in this year’s census.

"What I have been hearing, is the data you see today, it is closer to what we had in 2000," she said of the town’s demographic. "Today’s demographics are a little more close to 2000 based on to what the economy is doing."

But because of the two- to-three-year lag on census tallies, Ms. Powell says it is hard to say now what the impact could be to the city of Chandler in the way of future grant funding opportunities.

"I think it is important for them (residents) to participate because it is the only opportunity that we have," she said of the importance of Chandler residents participating in the national head count. "I think it is helpful ... but because of the time between counts you don’t have the impacts of the economy."

Understanding the community you are trying to serve is just as important as being in the running for as much federal funding as possible, Ms. Powell says.

"It really helps us understand our community," she says. "Funding aside, it is important to understand the demographic of our community so we are able to provide better services."

In Apache Junction, city officials say making sure everyone is counted — seasonal or full-time resident — is imperative for a community with a small-town feel.

"Federal and state-shared revenues are apportioned on the basis of population," said city of Apache Junction spokesman Pat Brenner in a Jan. 6 phone interview. "This certainly impacts economic development and social services."

For every resident not counted, it could cost that municipality $1,550 in federal funding or grant allocations, Mr. Brenner said.

"A city, say our size, if there were 500 people who were missed that would represent $775,000 to the city of Apache Junction," he pointed out. "During this fiscal debacle, we have to make sure everyone is counted."

Year-round population numbers for Apache Junction approach 45,000, city officials say.

Mr. Brenner called the 2010 census a "dollars-and-cents" conversation.

Apache Junction Housing Program Coordinator Heather Patel agrees.

"All federal and state grant funding is determined by calculations of state and community statistics, population playing a large part," she said in an e-mailed response to questions. "Each grantor will determine the amount of money provided to a region depending upon their need, population is key to illustrating need."

Getting everyone counted will pay dividends for the community of Apache Junction, Ms. Patel says.

"If the city’s population is not fully counted, the city’s funding from agencies may decrease as a result," she wrote. "A decrease in grant funds could affect all departments within the city."

In Mesa, organizations throughout the city are gearing up for the census count, according to Jerry Dillehay, Mesa’s grant coordinator.

"The primary reason is because of the benefits that flow down from federal agencies, but things we don’t realize are generated through population counts," he explained in a Jan. 5 phone interview. "Everyday life that we all come in contact with is all based on population data."

While Mr. Dillehay noted a less-than-great percentage of those who were counted in 2000, he is anticipating Mesa to have a more than a 65 percent turnout of residents participating in the national count.

"Mesa, particularly in 2000, we had a huge under-count in the first response," he said of falling below the national average of 65 percent. "We hope to best that a little bit."

To help get a better return on the initial response to the census mailing, the city of Mesa is participating in a statewide advertising campaign encouraging residents to participate.

"The city is participating in a public-relations campaign to underwrite a quarter of a million dollars in advertising," he explained. "The city of Mesa has contributed about $30,000 in that campaign."

Mr. Dillehay says for Mesa — and Arizona in general — the 2010 census will have impacts in three specific areas, which are: state-shared revenues, the possible creation of a new congressional district and revenue sharing.

"Our city lives and dies based on state-shared revenue," he explained of a percentage of income tax remits that get funneled to cities and towns in Arizona based on population numbers. "It is a major contributing factor to run the city."

Typically, grant-funding mechanisms are based on, among other things, population numbers.

"They are based on population, if you are under-counted, we are underfunded," he said of grant-funding mechanisms like U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development dollars. "If we don’t get it, it will go to a different place that does a better job counting."

In addition to public service announcements, the city of Mesa has formed an advisory committee made up of citizen, community, business and government representatives called the Mesa Complete Count Committee.

Mesa resident Gary Smith is chairman of the Mesa counting committee.

"Our committee is focusing on the groups that statistically were under-counted last time," he said in a Jan. 6 phone interview of the group’s focus. "We are going to be focusing on looking at contacting those neighborhoods and areas."

The population demographics that are typically worrisome of giving out their information when a census occurs are ethnic minorities, young people and seniors, Mr. Smith said.

"The elderly are certainly concerned with identity theft," he explained. "We are working with churches and what I would call trusted organizations for the minority and senior groups."