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Officials want snowbirds counted in Minnesota
Staff Writer Before the lakes area's snowbirds fly off for the winter, the last thing they may be concerned about is the U.S. Census count in mid-March.
But the Minnesota State Demographic Center is encouraging those residents who leave for the winter to make sure they fill out their Census forms when they return by mid-May, counting them as residents of Minnesota and not residents of their winter destination.
The state demographic office estimates that Minnesota could lose one of its eight congressional districts if fewer than 3,000 residents do not fill out their census forms from this state.
"It's really important for residents of Crow Wing County," said Tim Houle, Crow Wing County administrator. "These figures are used in population-based funding formulas and affect health and human services, roads and bridges. It's a big deal."
Here's the catch: The U.S. Postal Service will not forward Census 2010 questionnaires, so snowbirds who won't be back here in mid-March will need to call their city hall or county offices when they return to find out where their nearest census questionnaire assistance center is and request another form.
Barbara Ronningen, a demographer with the state demographic office, said these assistance centers won't be established until after January. She said they are requesting office space in city halls and there will be a few different centers located in Crow Wing County so as long as residents contact city hall, city staff should be able to direct them to one of them.
Ronningen said the Census Bureau will mail the questionnaires in mid-March to regular street mailing addresses. Minnesota snowbirds will receive a 2010 census questionnaire at both their Minnesota and winter addresses. The Census Bureau will hand-deliver questionnaires to the addresses of people who don't have home mail delivery, such as a post office box, rural delivery route or star route.
Census takers will attempt to contact those who didn't respond between April 1 and mid-May, and that's when snowbirds should try to make this second deadline, said Ronningen.
She advised snowbirds not to fill out the questionnaire in another state.
"If you fill it out in another state, you'll be counted in that state and that's what we want to avoid," said Ronningen. "We're just urging them to do it as soon as they get back. Get a duplicate and send it back. We want Minnesotans to be counted as Minnesotans."
Linda, a Brainerd resident whose last name is not being identified for security reasons, said she and her husband are leaving for Arizona in a few weeks and won't be back by mid-March.
"I was definitely not aware of it," Linda said about the fact census questionnaires won't be forwarded with their other mail. "I definitely agree it's most important because it makes a difference in our funding, our congressional districts. It's something we'll definitely do and make sure we'll do. We just assume any important mail will be forwarded."
Don and his wife, who live in Baxter, are leaving around Thanksgiving for Texas, although they'll be back by mid-March. He said this will affect a lot of his friends, who are also snowbirds.
"I'll mention it to some of our neighbors that go," said Don.
"Every Minnesotan needs to answer the 2010 Census they receive at their Minnesota address," said state demographer Tom Gillaspy. "If even a fraction of Minnesotans miss this opportunity, we could be left with only seven representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives."
Census information also determines the allocation of more than $400 billion in federal funding for everything from education to transportation. The business community also uses census information for planning, marketing, labor force projections and more, according to the Minnesota State Demographic Center.
For more information, visit www.mn2010census.org.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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