SMETHPORT — Have you seen our signs? The McKean County Complete Count Committee is still working hard to get an accurate count for McKean County in the 2020 Census. It’s not too late to complete the Census!

The Complete Count Committee will award two prizes to the two municipalities with the highest rate of households that self-respond (mail, phone, online) to the Census. Be counted to help your township, borough or city to be our winner!

Complete the Census here, search: 2020census.gov

Track McKean County response numbers: https://www.mckeancountypa.org

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You have questions, we have answers! #2020CensusMcKeanCounty

Q: Why should I complete the Census?

A: It benefits your community. Results of the Census are used for distributing over $675 Billion annually in federal funds and are used in drawing Congressional boundaries for our representation in Washington D.C.

Q. How long will it take?

A: Completing the Census takes less than 10 minutes of your time and ensures that all of McKean County is accurately counted.

Q: What questions will I be asked?

A: How many people are living at your home and their relationship to you. You will be asked the age, sex, race and ethnicity of each person. You will be asked if you own your home or are renting. Only one form per household is needed.

Q: How can I respond to the Census?

A: You should receive a Census form in the mail with a code and you can return it in the mail or you may complete it online at 2020Census.gov using your address or by phone (844-330-2020) for English or (844-468-2020) for Spanish. If you have not received your survey by mail you can still respond online or by phone with your address and phone number.

Q: What is the harm in not filling it out?

A: For each person not counted in the Census, McKean County could lose out on $2,100 in funding, annually. In 2010, self-reported numbers showed that McKean County may have lost $166,000,000 ($166 million) in federal funding due to under counted people. If the 2020 reported population of McKean County shows a decrease from 2010 due to uncounted residents, our federal funding will drop.

Q: Will someone come to my house if I don’t fill it out?

A: Yes. The Census takers will be coming to homes where the Census has not been completed. If you don’t respond early, census takers will visit your household up to six times between May 27 – August 14, 2020 to ensure you are counted. If you don’t want to be bothered, fill it out early!

Q: What programs are funded with these Federal dollars?

A: Funding for our schools and school lunches, hospitals, roads, healthcare, the ATA bus and MATP, housing assistance, and even our libraries are funded based on our census numbers. Non-profits, food banks, volunteer fire departments, conservation and child protection programs use the census for funding. Federal funds directly support Medicare, Pell grants, LIHEAP, Senior Centers and our disabled veterans. The more we count, the more we get. McKean County is committed to continuing services at their current levels. With federal funds, that responsibility does not become a burden on our local tax dollars.

Help your county secure funding for the future for our families, our children, our seniors and our neighbors, for the next ten years.