We answer some of your questions about the upcoming census
Read more: Local, State, National, Census, Diana Fairbanks, Fact Finder, Fact Finder
In just a few weeks the 2010 U.S. census will begin and many of you have already started asking questions about what to expect and how to keep your information safe.
We take a closer look in tonight's Fact Finder
The first question: Do you have to answer the questions?
Nancy Brethauer, Traverse City area census office manager says, "The census is required by law. It's mandated in the constitution and you have to answer what you are asked."
And if you don't you could be fined up to $100. If you lie on your answers you could face a $500 fine.
There are 10 questions on the form about things like age and race, but not....
"No one will ever ask you for your social security number. So if anybody does that they are not a census person," says Brethauer.
So who is a census person? Look for one of these badges. You could start seeing people knock at your door in the next few weeks and they could come at all times of day or evening.
She says, "Its likelihood you'll see somebody and you may see somebody more than once."
That's because the initial phase will begin mid March and last a few weeks. Then as the census office starts getting completed forms returned in the mail, if there are any questions about the answers, a census worker will come back to your house to clear up any confusion. That second, follow phase could last through July."
And in this day and age when folks are really watching where every dollar goes, she says not filling out the form is like throwing money away.
Brethauer says, "If the census doesn't get an accurate account we're not going to be in line fir approximately $300-400 billion annually of federal funds that gets distributed across the nation."
While it seems like the area has grown a lot, numbers won't lie.
She says, "there are people who do statistics all the time and tell us we may lose population so if that's the though, that's all the more reason for people to be counted."
So how secure is your information? They couldn't even let me into their office because that's considered a breach of security. And disclosing any confidential information is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Do you have questions or concerns about the census? I'd like to hear from you. Leave your comments below.
Click here for more security information from the official census website .
