Daytona Beach, FL - Invitations to take part in the 2020 Census will not go out until March but the city of Daytona Beach is getting ready now. A kick-off meeting takes place this afternoon for people interested in serving on the Complete Count Committee. Assistant City Manager Betty Goodman says while the city's Committee will work in conjunction with the one formulated by Volusia County, the two entities will be separate.
Goodman says it’s important to get as accurate an account as possible because the numbers affect how $675 million in federal funds will be distributed to state and local governments each year. The count also affects the drawing of state legislative districts and the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives.
The U.S. Census Bureau will mail invitations to every household in the U.S. in mid-March. For the first time, citizens can fill out their census forms either online or over the phone. This is a major change and it’s believed that it will increase participation and make it easier to complete the forms. For those who are not computer-savvy, locations, including some libraries, will be set up for people to get assistance with filling out the form online. Those that want the paper form have the option of asking the Census Bureau to mail them the traditional paper form.
Volunteers for the Daytona Beach Complete Count Committee will be responsible for analyzing previous census data, mobilizing resources and recommending outreach strategies for residents living in hard to count communities.
Today's kick-off meeting is being held at Daytona Beach Police Headquarters and begins at 5:30 p.m.
