Why is the census so important?


The data collected by the census next year will be used to determine a host of issues critical to the people of Michigan. Decisions about what community services to provide, and how to distribute over $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year for the next 10 years will be hugely affected by the results of the census.

For example, based on the results of the last census, Wayne County received $2,101,851,761 of federal funding in 2007.  Examples include:
  • $98,765,732 for Title 1 grants to educational agencies

  • $75,985,890 for Head Start programs

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  • $336,025,053 for highway planning and construction

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  • $79,139,524 for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers

In addition, census results affect the drawing of Congressional, State House and State Senate district lines, as well as the distribution of Congressional seats.

The full breakdown on federal funds distributed to Wayne County in 2007 can be downloaded from the following link: Wayne County Funding Table

To learn more about Census 2010 read An Introduction to the 2010 Census or the Census' fact sheets for Community and Social Service Organizations.

 
GENERAL ELECTION
TUESDAY
Nov. 3, 2009
All polls open from
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

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