Last week, the Oakland County Complete Count Committee (CCC) met with local municipalities and community groups to develop a plan to ensure that all people in Oakland County, including those in historically undercounted areas, are counted in the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census.
The meeting included remarks from Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairman David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak), Commissioner Janet Jackson (D-Southfield), and Mayor of Pleasant Ridge and former director of Data Driven Detroit (D3) Kurt Metzger, as well as a presentation by U.S. Census Bureau representative Linda Clark.
Census data determines the boundary lines of federal, state and county legislative districts, and how billions of dollars in federal and state funds are distributed. These funds pay for critical programs around health, education, transportation, child and elder care, emergency preparedness and more. Researchers estimate that for every person not counted, communities lose approximately $1,800 in federal funding each year.
"Every person we miss, has negative financial consequences to our county and local communities for a decade," said Woodward. "We are prepared to pull out all the stops, employ every idea possible, to make sure we have the most accurate count possible."
"The Oakland County Complete Count Committee is excited to bring together local municipalities and community groups to educate and motivate people to participate in the 2020 Census," said Jackson, who serves as chair of the committee. "We are determined to work together to ensure that every person is counted."
The Oakland County CCC, which was created by the Board of Commissioners, aims to serve as the leading county resource in the pursuit of a complete count of people living in Oakland County. In April 2019, Woodward appointed Jackson as chair and Commissioner Shelley Goodman Taub (R-Bloomfield Township) as vice-chair. Other members of the committee include:
(1) Designee from the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Office
(1) Designee from the County Executive Office
(1) Citizen representing the faith community
(1) Citizen representing the education community
(2) Citizens representing local government
(1) Citizen representing minority groups
(1) Citizen representing community groups
"It's encouraging to see so many of us coming together to ensure that all people living in Oakland County are counted," said Commissioner Angela Powell (D-Pontiac), who serves as a member of the Oakland County CCC. "It's important that we take the necessary steps to provide undercounted areas with extra resources and support during this important time."
To learn more about the U.S. Census, visit www.census.gov. For more information about the Board of Commissioners, visit www.oakgov.com/boc or call 248-858-0100.
Published: Wed, Oct 02, 2019
