Please be on the lookout for your 2010 Census form this month and encourage your friends, family members, coworkers and others in our community to participate in the census. All census forms will be mailed to households in March 2010. This year, the Census is much different than before. Every household is getting a “short form” with only 10 questions that should take no more than 10 minutes to complete, and will have 10 years of impact on the Town of Holly Springs. Every household should complete its census form and mail it back upon receipt prior to the April 1 target date.

The Holly Springs Town Council has provided their strong support of the upcoming Census by adopting Town Council Resolution 09-13 on May 5, 2009. By adopting this Resolution, the Town Council agreed to have Holly Springs join the Wake County Complete Count Committee and designated April 1, 2010 as “Census Day” in the Town of Holly Springs. In 2000, only 65 percent of Holly Springs households mailed back their forms by the April 1 deadline and had a final response rate of 74 percent with Wake County having a 71 percent overall response rate. This year, Wake County’s overall goal is 80 percent.

The 2010 Census data will affect how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to tribal, state and local governments. A complete and accurate count of Holly Springs residents is very important. In our current fiscal year budget over 15 percent, or $3.8 million, of the anticipated revenues are from population based tax distributions from the state and county. The only greater source of revenue for the Town is property tax. Therefore, we need to ensure that we have every resident in Town counted to get our fair share of these distributions for the next 10 years.

Responding immediately to the 2010 Census form is the most efficient way to complete the census.

Census forms are due back by April 1, 2010- Census Day! Census workers will visit those households that do not return the forms to take a count in person. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

As a Census Bureau partner, the Holly Springs Town Council encourages you to participate in the 2010 Census. If for some reason you do not receive a form or do not think you have otherwise been counted, you should visit a Be Counted Site or Questionnaire Assistance Center. To locate the closest Be Counted Site, contact the Town of Holly Springs Department of Planning and Zoning.

For questions or additional information about Holly Springs’ support of the 2010 Census, please contact Gina Clapp, Director of Planning & Zoning at 557-3928 or gina.clapp@hollyspringsnc.us. Visit www.hollyspringsnc. us/census to learn more.