For S.C.'s sake, fill out your 2010 census form

Will you take 10 minutes to help give South Carolina a brighter future?

Ten minutes is all it takes to answer the 10 questions on the 2010 United States Census that will arrive in your mailbox in March. The once-a-decade census determines our state's share of the $400 billion in federal aid distributed each year and how much political power South Carolina will wield in Washington.

In 2000, South Carolina had the nation's second lowest initial response rate to the census questionnaire, trailing only Alaska. And our poor response rate has real consequences every day.

We lose out each year on at least $60 million in federal aid — and probably much more — that is distributed using census population data. That's hundreds of millions of dollars over the decade that has gone to other states. We have received less money for things that make life better in our communities such as road repair and construction, health care, vocational education to help young people get good jobs and programs that care for the victims of violent crime.

As bad as those numbers are, the situation might actually be worse. It is estimated that more than 48,000 S.C. residents were ultimately missed during the 2000 Census. Because South Carolina has many hard-to-count communities and a growing population, I suspect the number of people missed in 2000 was much higher than the official federal estimate.

A good census count is also important to cities and counties. Local governments receive direct aid from the state based solely on the number of residents within their borders. But this year the stakes are even higher. South Carolina is very close to earning an additional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Seats in the House are fixed at 435 and each state is guaranteed at least one representative. The rest of the seats are allocated based strictly on population. That means a state must grow much faster than the national average to take away a seat from another state. And that is exactly what is happening in the Palmetto State. We were among the 10 fastest-growing states in the nation from 2007-08.

It is impossible to know at this point exactly what population number will be needed to earn a seventh House seat. But I think we are going to be very close. If we get there, it would mark a major milestone for our state. South Carolina lost its seventh seat after the 1930 Census, a time when people were fleeing South Carolina's struggling agricultural economy for new opportunities in the North.

The S.C. Budget and Control Board's Office of Research and Statistics is our state's lead agency for working with federal census officials. We have been making unprecedented efforts to improve the state's census count. Part of this has meant providing extensive training to local governments around the state to help them submit accurate address lists.

Completing the census will be easier than ever in 2010. Every residence will receive the simplified 10-question short form and your answers are entirely secure. Previously, some people had received a much longer form that included more detailed questions. It is also important to know that all U.S. Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

Look for the census form in your mailbox this March. The form asks you to account for everyone living at your address as of April 1, 2010. A prepaid envelope is included so you can mail it back as soon as possible. Those who do not respond by mail will receive a second mailing. If the second form is not returned, a census taker will visit your residents to ask you the 10 questions.

More information about the census can be found at the national Census 2010 Website http://2010.census.gov. You can also find information and data about South Carolina and the census at http://census.sc.gov. I hope you will join me in making sure that South Carolina counts in 2010.

Bobby Bowers is director of the S.C. Budget and Control Board's Office of Research and Statistics and serves as chairman of the S.C. Complete Count Committee.