Census really does count, mayors say

In the town of Hollywood, where about half the residents did not mail back their census forms in 2000, Mayor Jacquelyn Heyward is working with local churches to encourage a better response.

On the other side of Charleston County, Isle of Palms residents can't get onto the barrier island without driving past large signs urging them to fill out the census forms that began arriving in area mailboxes this week.

In downtown Charleston on Thursday, Mayor Joe Riley stood with Heyward, IOP Mayor Dick Cronin, Sullivan's Island Mayor Carl Smith and Charleston County Council Chairman Teddie Pryor to encourage census participation.

"Every person who is not counted is revenue lost to our community," Riley said. "I've already filled mine out, and it took about three minutes."

Libertarians have complained that the Census seeks too much information, and should be limited to counting people. The 10-question Census form seeks additional information, including the age, race and sex of those who live at each address.

"Unfortunately, the federal government wants to use the additional information to fine-tune its control over the lives and money of the American people," the Libertarian Party declared in a statement this week.

There has also been some backlash against the census from conservatives who are concerned about surveys that ask about things like gun ownership, but those surveys are separate from the 2010 census form.

Covering the politics of the Lowcountry, South Carolina and the nation.

"Don't listen to the naysayers trying to say the government is being intrusive," Pryor said. "We need to do this."

The 2000 Census is estimated to have undercounted the population of South Carolina by about 48,000 people, costing the state about $60 million in federal funding during the past decade, Riley said.

Just over two-thirds of state residents filled out and returned their Census forms in 2000. It wasn't the worst response in the nation, but it was close.

Riley noted that if people don't mail back the forms, then census workers will be sent to their addresses in person, at greater expense to taxpayers.

Reach David Slade at 937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com.