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OPINION

Wilson: Why Census 2020 is important for the City of Apache Junction

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Responses to the 2020 Census help ensure that federal funds are directed to the right places to support education, roads, health care, firefighting and more each year.

Below is a Q-and-A with Apache Junction City Council Vice Mayor Chip Wilson on why it is important to the City of Apache Junction:

  • Why does the City of Apache Junction have a Complete Count Committee?: We were encouraged by the Census Bureau to spread the word and factual information about the census. They also want us to express the local importance of getting a complete and accurate count. They recommend a committee to do this; otherwise, it would have fallen onto city staff and that would have removed them from their normal business duties or greatly reduced their time to perform this important activity.
  • Why is it important to count every person residing in the City of Apache Junction?: It is important because either federal and/or state dollars the city receives is based on population. Example: Highway User Revenue Fund funding for roads is based on the population of our community. Many other funding channels are all based on the population so we must make sure we count every person that lives inside the city limits as well as the county needs the accurate county count to receive their fair share of state and federal support funding.
  • Does the resulting data help the city plan for the future? If yes, how?: Yes! The continued growth is important to not only see but to understand and to see what needed services are needed to improve the life within the city.
  • When you are out speaking at events and meetings, what are residents saying about the Census?: The only questions I have seen and addressed is how will it be performed and that we need to make sure everyone is properly counted. They want to make sure the tax dollars they are giving to the state and federal governments are properly being returned to our area. They have seen the road improvements but understand that the state had used the tax funds for other things and we had to do a local sales tax to help fund the needed road repairs.

Editor’s note: Mr. Wilson is a member of Apache Junction City Council