2010 Census forms will soon hit your mailbox. The federal government is spending millions to make sure you fill it out and send it in. In addition to the form itself, you'll also get two reminders in the mail. The massive outreach campaign has some people questioning how much this all costs.
The Census Bureau hit the airwaves during the Super Bowl last month. Now it is trying to catch the attention of children and their parents with the Dora the Explorer PSA. This week, 120 million households received a letter alerting them the Census forms will be mailed next week. The mailings don't end there. A reminder postcard to fill out of the survey will soon follow. "I don't think there's a lack of awareness for the Census out there," says Republican Party of Iowa Chair Matt Strawn. "When they make decisions like advertising on the Super Bowl or sending multiple letters telling people there is a Census, it does strike me as a waste of resources."
The Census Bureau says the advance letter and reminder postcard can actually save you money. For every 1% increase in survey mail back, taxpayers can save about $85 million. "I think the census is so, so important and answering it back by mail so you don't have the expensive follow up- if something isn't answered by mail- I would see this as a cost effective mailing," says Senator Charles Grassley.
No one is disputing what is at stake. For cities like Des Moines, not answering the survey could cost an estimated at $1,000 a person in federal funding. Yet to some, the tv ads and mass mailing are a waste of money. "Certainly we want everyone to participate in the Census. It's an important part of making sure we get an accurate count, but this is just one of those examples that people see a government make dumb decisions with taxpayer dollars," says Strawn.
Iowans will start seeing the 2010 Census forms in their mailboxes starting on Monday.
The Census Bureau hit the airwaves during the Super Bowl last month. Now it is trying to catch the attention of children and their parents with the Dora the Explorer PSA. This week, 120 million households received a letter alerting them the Census forms will be mailed next week. The mailings don't end there. A reminder postcard to fill out of the survey will soon follow. "I don't think there's a lack of awareness for the Census out there," says Republican Party of Iowa Chair Matt Strawn. "When they make decisions like advertising on the Super Bowl or sending multiple letters telling people there is a Census, it does strike me as a waste of resources."
The Census Bureau says the advance letter and reminder postcard can actually save you money. For every 1% increase in survey mail back, taxpayers can save about $85 million. "I think the census is so, so important and answering it back by mail so you don't have the expensive follow up- if something isn't answered by mail- I would see this as a cost effective mailing," says Senator Charles Grassley.
No one is disputing what is at stake. For cities like Des Moines, not answering the survey could cost an estimated at $1,000 a person in federal funding. Yet to some, the tv ads and mass mailing are a waste of money. "Certainly we want everyone to participate in the Census. It's an important part of making sure we get an accurate count, but this is just one of those examples that people see a government make dumb decisions with taxpayer dollars," says Strawn.
Iowans will start seeing the 2010 Census forms in their mailboxes starting on Monday.
