Census takers to start home visits

It is still not too late to be counted as a U-S citizen for the 2020 Census.  You still have time to respond by mail, phone, or online.  Starting next week, however, Census enumerators will start to show up in neighborhoods to track down people who, for whatever reason, have yet to be added to the count.  The count is especially important for your locale, for no other reason than numbers can mean increased financial benefits from the federal government for your city, county, and state.  Reports this week warn that an accurate count is jeopardized by the U-S Census decision to stop the count by September 30, one month earlier than originally scheduled.  Door knockers from Census will have a valid ID badge with photograph, a U-S Department of Commerce watermark, and they may also carry Census Bureau bags and other equipment with Census Bureau logos.  A question of concern was raised at this week’s Oconee Planning Commission meeting as to whether the vehicles that enumerators drive will have signs indicating they are from the Census.