Officials fear 2020 Census count will miss many

Santa Clara County leaders Tuesday raised alarms about the upcoming 2020 Census, fearing many people in crowded, culturally diverse cities like San Jose won’t be tallied in the oncea-decade count that determines federal funding and representation in Congress.

“It’s our responsibility as a county to make sure that every person is counted,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez Tuesday during a news conference with Supervisor Ken Yeager.

Yeager said it’s critical for Census population counts to be accurate in order for the county to receive the proper amount of federal funding and Congressional representation. Census numbers are also used for federal funds for transportation, housing, projects and other items.

“The Constitution is very clear: This is for representation purposes and for taxation purposes. That’s really what’s at stake here,” Yeager said. “We really need to make sure we have an accurate count for us to have due representation in Congress.”

It was unclear Tuesday whether other Bay Area counties share their concerns.

A spokesman for the Census Bureau referred to a recent address from Wilbur Ross, secretary of the Department of Commerce, which oversees the Census Bureau.

In his Oct. 31 address, Ross said the cost for the 2020 Census is estimated at $15.6 billion, which includes $14.4 billion for program costs and $1.2 billion in contingency funds for any risks. He did not discuss the budget in comparison to the 2010 Census budget.

But Census experts and independent accountability agencies have said the Census Bureau faces mounting costs to develop a technological system that for the first time will collect and process Census surveys online.

“Many challenges still lie ahead for the 2020 Census,” Ross said. “We are keenly aware of the challenges, risks, and costs associated with this new approach. However, we believe these innovations are promising and will serve as a solid foundation for future Decennial Censuses.”

The Santa Clara County board of supervisors on Tuesday unanimously directed the county’s legal office to develop a strategic plan to address these issues, including identification of needed resources, proactive strategies to support a complete count and other items.

Though the Census Bureau conducts the count, the board asked the county counsel’s office to present a plan on Dec. 5 to help ensure they count every address in the county, as well as an outreach program ahead of the Census. Chavez said the county will devote resources toward ensuring county leaders are effectively communicating with the public about what’s at stake.

“We don’t want people to be afraid to answer questions,” she said about the decennial count.