Federal government workers and community members in Dewey-Humboldt will spearhead the first-ever census in the town's five-year history next year.
But what some folks may not know is the importance of the census, which goes beyond merely counting the municipality's residents.
The more accurate the population count, the more money the town will receive for much-needed infrastructure projects in its Capital Improvement Program (CIP), such as maintaining roads, upgrading drainage, and preserving open space for future parks and trails.
On Tuesday, the D-H Town Council adopted a resolution allowing the town to form a partnership with the 2010 Census. D-H also is piecing together a Complete Count Committee, which it hopes to have by November, to aid in compiling a reliable count while increasing the response rate.
Most residents should receive a survey questionnaire in the mail next year. Once the town gets the results of the census in 2011, staffers will analyze the figures.
Among other things, the data will show the number of residents and age groups the town has, as well as employment figures and those adults who have children at home.
Census information is broken down by tracks, which target a number of specific areas in town. For instance, one neighborhood might have more children in it than another, giving town staffers a better idea about where to build a park.
"It will help the town in terms of its planning," Town Manager William Emerson said. "Knowing our demographics helps us to plan for a community center, for example."
Every 10 years, the feds make an effort to count every person living in the United States. To tally all residents in D-H, the local committee would work to bolster the response rate for residents who are mailing back their census questionnaires.
Emerson said committee members would do this through a focused, structured, neighbor-to-neighbor program that ensures each resident is aware of the importance of an accurate count. Federal law protects all personal information that individuals share.
"The committee will have a number of different activities related to education and outreach," he said. "They won't be going door-to-door asking people to respond, but they're going to do presentations at schools and community groups, and work with the media."
For every person recorded, the town gets about $600 in direct state revenue, Emerson said.
"We want to make sure that we get as much money as possible to provide a higher level - or maintain the same level - of goods and services to our community," he said. "It's important for the kinds of residential and economic development that come to the town, and what kinds of businesses will locate here."
In addition, the census count helps determine the allocation of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services resources to Yavapai County, such as food stamps and Medicaid.
"It also assists the schools, so they can plan for the number of children that they will absorb in the coming years," Emerson said.
The census has a ripple effect on every level of government, from towns, cities and counties - to the states, which get money directly from the feds.
Dewey-Humboldt relies heavily on state-shared revenues because the town does not generate much money from its 1-percent sales tax.
"This census will set a baseline for everything we do," Emerson said. "It will be the first true count of the town. Right now we're going on (Arizona) Department of Commerce estimates (of our population)."
Those interested in volunteering for D-H's Complete Count Committee should call Town Hall at 928-632-7362 or log onto the town's Internet website at www.dhaz.gov.
