A. More than $400 billion in federal money is distributed nationwide each year based on census population figures. For Surprise, that amounts to $1,300 per person.

The money is used to support public safety; medical services; schools; road improvements and much more.

If you aren’t counted, you and your community stand to lose much needed funding for these valuable services.

An accurate count also determines how many U.S. representatives Arizona will have in Congress.  The 2000 Census increased Arizona’s House of Representative delegation from six to eight, boosting our state’s voice in our nation’s capitol.

Federal law requires that anyone receiving a Census form to complete the form to the best of their ability and return the postage-paid form to the U.S. Census Bureau.

So do your part and fill out and return the 2010 Census form as soon as you receive it in March or April.  It only takes 10 minutes and your information is confidential!

A. Every household in Surprise and across the country will receive the census questionnaire in March or April of 2010. All you need to do is fill out the 10 questions in the form mailed to you. It’s easy and confidential.  And it only takes about 10 minutes to complete the form!

A. Completely confidential. Guaranteed.

Personal census information goes directly to the U.S. Census Bureau and is not shared with any other agency, organization, or political group. There are no exceptions. Census workers can go to jail for up to five years and face a $250,000 fine for revealing census information.

• U.S. Census Bureau Data Protection and Privacy Policy

A. Yes. If you are living in Surprise and receive a 2010 Census form you must complete and mail back the postage-paid form.

The U.S. Constitution mandates that all people residing in the United States, including non-citizens, be counted in the Census. This mandate has been followed since the first Census was taken in 1790.

All Census information is kept confidential by law.

A. You will receive a form at each address. However, you should fill out the survey only in the home you occupy when you receive the 2010 Census form. Census forms mailed to your other residence (s) will not be forwarded to you and you should discard them.

A. A question-by-question explanation is available on the Census Bureau’s Web site at:
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/how/interactive-form.php

The form asks 10 basic questions including:

• Name
• Sex
• Age and date of birth
• Hispanic origin
• Race
• Household relationship
• If you rent or own your home

You will NOT be asked to share your social security number, bank account information, citizenship or immigration status, or income level.

Your personal information is confidential and is NOT shared with any political party, organization, group, or law enforcement agency.

A. Federal law requires that anyone receiving a Census form to complete the form to the best of their ability and return the postage-paid form to the U.S. Census Bureau.

So do your part and fill out and return the 2010 Census form as soon as you receive it in March or April. It only takes 10 minutes and it is confidential!

A. By not filling out a Census 2010 form, you are costing your city thousands of dollars in federal funding that could be used to support public safety, education, health facilities and road improvements here in Surprise.

Getting an accurate population count is so important that, if you don’t return the form, a Census representative will contact you by phone or visit your home as many as six times seeking your answers. If you still don’t respond, your neighbors may be asked about the people residing in your home.

A. Fill out and return the 2010 Census form as soon as you receive it. Census workers will NOT come to any residence in which a survey was completed and returned.

A. Census forms are available in six languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese.

These forms can be requested by calling toll-free phone numbers that will be established by the U.S. Census Bureau closer to Census Day in April. Learn more at www.2010census.gov.

English/Spanish bi-lingual forms will be mailed to areas with large numbers of Spanish-only households.

A. If you check the wrong box, just draw a line through the mistake and mark the correct box for the question. If the error is in a write-in box, carefully draw a line through the incorrect entry and write the correct information as close as possible to the entry.

A. You can call to receive another form at 1.866.872.6868. This phone number will be active from February 25 – July 31, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., seven days a week. Spanish speakers should call 1.866.928.2010. For the hearing-impaired, TDD 1.866.783.2010.

A. Any request for census information from the U.S. Census Bureau will clearly be identified as coming from the U.S. Census Bureau and as OFFICIAL BUSINESS of the United States. A letter from the Census Bureau Director will arrive a few days in advance of the official 2010 Census survey form.

A. The U.S. Census Bureau runs the 2010 Census and does not disclose personal information to anyone.

The Census Bureau reports only the final tallied count directly to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, a practice that dates back for more than 100 years. The Commerce Secretary reports the findings to the President of the United States.

No political party, organization, group, or law enforcement agency has access to your personal information. In fact, it is a crime to share personal Census information, punishable up to five years in jail and a $250,000 fine.

A. No. All forms are postage-paid for returning back to the U.S. Census Bureau.

A. All Census Surveyors/Takers carry official government badges marked with their name only. You may ask them for a picture ID from another source to confirm the name on their Census badge matches their appearance. Some may carry a “U.S. Census Bureau” bag.

If you still are not certain about their identity, please call the Regional Census Center toll-free number at 1-800-923-8282, to confirm their employment with the Census Bureau.

NOTE: Census Surveyors/Takers will NEVER ask to enter your home and they will NOT ask for your social security number, bank account or any personal information of that nature.

A. Official U.S. Census Bureau Census 2010 Web site: www.2010census.gov

City of Surprise Census 2010 education Web site: www.surpriseaz.com/census2010

Maricopa Association of Government’s Census 2010 education Web site: www.magcensus.com

In Surprise, the Census 2010 Coordinator is David Neal. He is available by phone at 623.222.3136 or by email at .