County News

Commerce Secretary William Daley tells county officials at the Feb. 28 General Session that he’s determined to deliver an accurate 2000 Census.

More than $200 billion in federal funding is at stake when the Census Bureau counts the population in April 2000, Commerce Secretary William Daley told delegates Feb. 28 at the Opening General Session of NACo’s 1999 Legislative Conference.

"We need the most accurate count," Daley said. "The people of America deserve the most accurate count."

Since the Census Bureau began checking the accuracy of the census in 1941, the 1990 Census was the first to be less accurate than its predecessor was. Eight million were uncounted and millions others were counted twice.

Daley said that although Americans deserve the most accurate census, that will be easier said than done for several reasons.

"It’s hard to do a better job because people distrust the government more," Daley said. "Some people don’t speak English. Many people don’t want to be counted."

Daley said that he still hasn’t abandoned the idea of statistical sampling but that the contentious political issue "must be settled soon."

Sampling or no, Daley said counties will have to play a big role to ensure an accurate count.

"We need your help," Daley said. "This must be on the top of your agendas. I want to be frank with you. In the past year I haven’t gotten one call from a county official about the census.

"I assume that means everything is going perfectly," Daley joked. "Please don’t wait until it’s over. Help us make it work."

One of the roles county governments can play in making the 2000 Census work is in helping to set a good atmosphere, according to Peter Bounpane, special assistant to the director of the U.S. Bureau of the Census.

"We feel comfortable about the census, logistically," Bounpane said. "What we need help in is setting a good atmosphere for the census."

Bounpane was a speaker at the Census 2000 workshop at NACo’s 1999 Legislative Conference, Feb. 28.

Bounpane said that although the Supreme Court recently nixed plans for statistical sampling for apportionment, the bureau has a good framework for a traditional census. That framework, coupled with lessons learned in "dress rehearsals" last year, will work well, he said.

"We’ll put this all together, cost it out, and send it to Congress," Bounpane said. "I expect to have the cost in six weeks."

Bounpane said that distrust of government, a mistaken notion that census data can be used by other government agencies and illegal immigration are all working against the Census Bureau.

"Most people missed in the census come from households that file a census form," he said. "They just don’t put everyone down."

He said that counties can organize peers to reach out to traditionally undercounted groups.

That’s a little easier said than done they’re finding in Alexandria, Va., according to Beverly Beidler, chair of the city’s Complete Count Committee. She said the committee has faced three areas of concern.

Members of the committee don’t have much experience building the business partnerships the Census Bureau recommends. Also, they’re not sure how their publicity campaign will mesh with the bureau’s. Finally, Alexandria is having trouble recruiting volunteers from target populations.

"Many are not well-equipped for volunteer work," Beidler said. "Many don’t speak English, are poorly educated. Some are not legal immigrants. Some have no group to represent them. Others have several jobs."

"But these are the very people who can do the most effective job of getting the message to friends and neighbors," she added.

Stan Rolark, chief of the customer liaison office with the Census Bureau, outlined many of the partnership programs the bureau is using to try to reduce the differential undercount.

"In 1990, we didn’t do that bad," Rolark said. "We counted 98 percent. But we missed eight million people."

"For the Census 2000, our primary goal is reduce the differential undercount," Rolark said. "One of the biggest ways you can help is by forming a Complete Count Committee."

In his address, Daley said that ensuring an accurate census is one of three challenges the Commerce Department is facing. One of the others is expanding the role of the Economic Development Administration so that it helps out before crises as well as after.

He said that by investing in high-tech projects, the Administration can play a role in making sure that the "digital divide" between rural and urban areas doesn’t continue to grow.

Also on the department’s plate is helping counties develop a more comprehensive plan to profit from exports.

"In 1998 exports dropped for the first time since the 1980s," Daley said. "We need to become more comprehensive to opening up markets."

Daley said that the Commerce Department has a global network of resources that can help counties and small and mid-sized businesses to find global opportunities and he encouraged delegates to use those resources.