Sherrod Brown: Census count means money for Ohio

By DAVID SKOLNICK

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is urging Ohioans to accurately fill out census forms because failure to do so could cost the state millions, or perhaps billions, of dollars in federal money.

“Critical funds that promote economic development, keep our communities safe, and help those in need are at stake,” Brown said. “The census determines the future of our state. It determines the resources, services and funding we’ll have available to ensure our children grow up with the education and medical care they need. It determines the funding we’ll have to train our workers and ensure our small businesses can grow.”

The 10-question census form was recently mailed, including to homes in the Mahoning Valley. The U.S. Census Bureau wants all of the forms completed and mailed back by April 1. Between April and July, census takers will go to households that didn’t mail completed forms, Brown said.

Ohio receives about

$14 billion each year from the federal government based on census data, Brown said.

“Ohio can’t afford to lose money by not being counted,” the Democratic senator from Avon said Wednesday on a conference call with reporters.

A 2-percent undercount in the number of Mahoning County residents could mean a loss to the county of $61.8 million in federal funding over 10 years, Brown said, using information compiled by the Brookings Institution.

A 2-percent undercount in Trumbull County could result in a loss of $54 million over 10 years there with Columbiana County possibly losing $26.9 million over 10 years under the same scenario, according to the Brookings report.

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