Washington County forms count committee to help with 2020 census

The U.S. Census is one of the most important tools and resources for federal, state and local governments. And not getting an accurate count can have consequences.

Washington county officials announced the formation of a complete count committee at last week's commission meeting to help make sure everyone is counted.

The national census is taken every ten years to tally our country’s ever-changing population. The next one is April 2020 and reports of a predicted undercount have areas like Washington county forming count committees to make sure everyone is accounted for.

"It’s crucial for our federal and state funding," Job and Family services director Flite Freimann said, "that we have an accurate number of the total count of the people that live here in the county."

Freimann is one of the officials leading the committee and he can’t stress enough how important it is to count everyone.

"With a county of our size, it doesn’t take a lot.," he added. "500 or 1000 people could have a huge impact on federal and state funding."

The committee will work with public and private groups to canvass the county.

"The goal then is to have outreach geographically throughout the county," Freimann said, "and through all the appropriate agencies so that we can post signage, asking you know, reminding individuals to complete their census."

Freimann wants to ease concerns from vulnerable populations worried about things like immigration status that the census bureau does not share its data.

"That information is not reported to any other entity," he said. "There's no concern that the sheriff, or immigration and control or children services is going to come knocking on your door."