|
Census Valuable to County
Posted 9-24-1999
During the 1980's Westmoreland County lost 22,000 people, that was 5.6% of
our population. In the 1990 Census, our population was counted at 370,000.
I'm confident that number has grown during the 1990's, but we need to get an
accurate and comprehensive count in the 2000 Census or the population gains
in our county will not be realized.
You may wonder why the Census
is important. There are many, many reasons.
First and foremost is that
the funding for many federal programs is based on population and an under
counting will mean less money for our county.
There are countless programs affected by our Census figures. A sample of
them are: National School Lunch Program, Community Development Block Grants,
Public Housing funds, Job Training funds, Title I Education Grants, Head
Start funds, and many more.
The total federal allocation
driven by the Census for Westmoreland County is over $220 million and
amounts to roughly $595.00 per person each year. If we aren't accurately
counted, it will definitely hurt the money coming into our county.
The money issue is only part
of the story, our census figures, along with the rest of Pennsylvania's will
impact upon the number of Congressional seats we have.
Even if Pennsylvania's
population increases, we will likely lose one seat because other regions of
the United States are increasing more quickly.
That one seat lost in Pennsylvania will probably come from Western
Pennsylvania and will affect the political landscape of our region. There is
even the possibility that Pennsylvania may lose two seats. Census figures
also impact the allocation of State Legislature and State Senate seats. It
is also critical that we in Westmoreland County do not lose representatives
at the state level.
In the mid-decade estimate
conducted by the Census Bureau, Westmoreland County population was estimated
to be 376,501. That 6,000 person increase is a positive sign for next year's
actual count. But we will only have an accurate, successful count if we all
participate in the process.
The Census is not a sinister government conspiracy but a constitutionally
mandated decennial event that we all have a duty to carry out.
The Bureau of the Census is
asking public officials and community leaders to begin to spread the message
of the importance of the next year's Census. But we can only do part of the
job.
We need each citizen to do
their share in encouraging family, friends, and neighbors to respond to
census inquiries.
If we all do our part, the
growth in our county will be documented and we will receive our fair share
of federal dollars and our county will be recognized as a growing area. |
