BY LUCIE KRISMAN
Filling out the Census may not seem like a priority right now, but officials say billions of dollars are on the line that make it critical for residents to complete their forms by April 1.
Population numbers collected by the Census are used to distribute $6 billion in federal funds to Kansas each year, according to information provided by KansasCounts.
The state loses over $2,000 in federal funding for each Kansas resident who isn't counted on the form.
City of Eudora Management Intern Jeff Rhodes said responses affect what future resources are available to local residents based on what the Census says Eudora’s population is.
“If we’re not participating in that system as citizens, if we’re not filling out our Census forms, those resources don’t come,” Rhodes said.
Accurate Census results help contribute to funding for projects such as fixing Eudora roads and the completion of the Nottingham Project, which involves the redevelopment of the Nottingham property for the purpose of retail.
Rhodes said Eudora is also affected by reduced school funding if parents do not fill out the Census on behalf of their children and if the state of Kansas does not provide Eudora grants based on its population size.
“It’s about planning and building for the future,” Rhodes said. “People want to come and live in Eudora and, to do that, it costs money. If we are undercounted as Eudora, we will not get the money we need and our proportional allotment to fund some of these projects.”
Assistant City Manager Leslie Herring said two of the biggest concerns are the possibility of underrepresented congressional districts and possible limitations in state grants for city projects.
“Those grants oftentimes are tied to an income threshold and if we can’t hit that income threshold, we don’t qualify for those grant programs,” Herring said. “It’s important to know where we stand in terms of types of households that we have.”
Herring also said an underrepresented population in Eudora could mean fewer businesses coming here.
“Businesses use that Census data, too,” Herring said. “They make decisions based on how many people are in an area where they might locate a new business.”
Additional information about the 2020 Census can be found here.
Reach reporter Lucie Krisman at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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