Future federal funds to address things like schools, housing, water, sewer, roads depend on people being counted in 2020
By now most people in the United States have received their 2020 census form, but many residents who get their mail delivered to post offices boxes are not on the list.
Every 10 years the United States conducts a population and housing census in an attempt to get an accurate count of the people living in the country. If someone gets their mail delivered to their house, they should have already received the form. Census forms are not delivered to post office boxes.
Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant Jr., said it's very important for everyone in Flomaton to fill out the census forms.
“The future of Flomaton and the future of the state depends on people filling out the census,” Bondurant said.
In addition to determining how many seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives, census numbers are also used to determine the expenditure of federal funds to states, counties and municipalities for such things as schools, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
Alabama currently has seven representatives in the U.S. House, a number that has not changed since 1970. The state's largest number of representatives was 10 prior to the 1930 census.
The U.S. House of Representatives has 435 members and House seats are allocated based on the census numbers. A drop in the population count could result in the state losing a seat in the House.
“Whether Flomaton qualifies for grants to address things like water, sewer and roads will depend on the 2020 census,” Bondurant said. “It's very important that everybody be counted.”
With many Flomaton residents receiving their mail at a post office box, Bondurant said it's important they go online and fill out the form.
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins echoed Bondurant's sentiments saying it's very important for people to be counted.
“This impacts everybody,” Hawkins said. “All your money is tied to the census from welfare to schools. It's based on how many people are in the area.”
Hawkins also agreed that municipalities depend on federal grant funds to address things like water, sewer and roads and those grant funds are directly tied to the census.
“They're not going to give you anything if you only have five people in town,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins also said if people need census forms or need access to a computer to fill in out online they can come to Century City Hall.
People can access the 2020 census form by logging on to http://www.my2020census.gov. It should take about 10 minutes to fill out and file.
