Statement on Hennepin County’s Work toward the 2020 Census and My Role
On December 12, the Hennepin County Board voted to establish a Complete Count Committee to serve as an advisory board on issues of the 2020 Census. I, Commissioner Irene Fernando, was designated to be the Chair of Hennepin County’s Complete Count Committee. I am honored to serve in this role as we take on the most important civic activity of the decade.
My first action as Chair of Hennepin County’s Complete Count Committee is publishing this statement that serves the following purposes:
Background: Inform residents of what is at stake in the 2020 Census and how over 230,000 of our neighbors are at risk of not being counted
Update: Inform residents, local governments, and organizations working toward a complete count about the County’s current investment and efforts
Call to Action: Inform residents on what immediate actions can be taken to increase Hennepin’s efforts and Census work
Background: What is the Census?
The Census counts every person living in the U.S. once, only once, and in the right place. Mandated by the U.S. Constitution, everyone in the country must be counted every 10 years. Census activity has already begun and will likely continue through August, if not later — the federal government does not have an ‘end date’ for the Census as they expect the work to continue until it is complete. Learn more at hennepind2.com/wecount.
Background: Why is the 2020 Census important for Hennepin County?
Funding the Census is about revenue for the next decade. The 2020 Census count will determine how $675 billion in federal funds is appropriated to states, counties, and communities — more people means more federal money to support residents. That money is spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works, human services, transit, and other vital programs — most of these services fall under the mission and jurisdiction of Hennepin County.
For each person we count, the state of Minnesota receives approximately $28,000 in funding over the next decade. Even if we assume that Hennepin receives just 5% of this amount ($1,400), and that it takes $5 to count an additional person — the return on investment is $280 to $1. Meaning, for every $1 invested under these assumptions, Hennepin would receive a $280 over 10 years in federal funding.
Specifically, of the 1.2 million people who live in Hennepin County, approximately 230,000 or 20% of our residents, are categorized as Hard to Count (HTC), or expected to not respond without additional follow-up. If they’re not counted, using the $28,000 assumption, Minnesota will miss out on over $6.4 billion in federal funding over the next 10 years on behalf of Hennepin residents.
Of this $6.4 billion, even if the County only receives 5% directly, Hennepin would receive an additional $320 million in revenue over the next decade. With these funds, Hennepin can further our mission — from increasing human services, improving public works, building affordable housing, and meeting the shelter needs in the County.
Background: Why is this Hennepin’s responsibility?
There are few levers the County Board has to increase revenue, and the Census directly impacts revenue for the next 10 years. Ensuring an accurate count is the most efficient and cost-effective way to increase what we can spend to help our residents every year. With decreased resources allocated toward Census efforts, Hennepin holds a fiduciary responsibility to our residents with revenue implications through 2030.
The federal government is putting fewer resources into the Census than before.
In 2010, the federal government spent $13 billion on the Census, approximately $42 per person. The 2020 budget request is $6.3 billion which includes $1.02 billion in prior-year unobligated balance — this amounts to a 60% reduction in funding.
Further, there are half as many Census offices across the nation as there were in 2010 and 60% fewer enumerators (Census workers going door-to-door).
Our state is putting fewer resources into the Census compared to other states.
Minnesota has allocated $1.6 million for the 2020 Census — about $0.28 per person. Comparatively, Washington is putting in $15.5 million — about $2 per person. And California plans to spend $190 million — nearly $5 per person. These are state comparisons, with individual counties investing in addition to these amounts.
There are thousands of unfilled jobs for federal Census workers in Minnesota, that are expected to remain unfilled. It’s important to note that the current unemployment rate in our state is 3.5% (near full employment), compared to 7.1% in 2010. It has been a struggle to find enough workers for the 2020 Census, without targeted efforts. See the 12/12 article in the Star Tribune.
The lack of resources being invested in the Census by our governments is a direct attempt to silence communities of color and low wealth communities.
Update: Hennepin’s Complete Count Committee
The County Board established a Complete Count Committee and elected me Chair on December 12.
“The establishment of a Complete Count Committee will provide the opportunity with close coordination and enable us to use our resources most efficiently to focus on all of Hennepin County including, communities that are historically undercounted and/or at risk of being undercounted in 2020. Hennepin County will invite all 45 municipalities and 22 school districts in Hennepin County to join the Complete Count Committee as members. The Hennepin County Complete County Committee will also collaborate with the Census Bureau and the State of Minnesota to work towards an accurate and complete count.” See the Board Action Request we passed (PDF).
Update: The Work Hennepin Plans to Do
Hennepin County Communications (which includes the Community Engagement Department) is working closely with Hennepin’s Center of Innovation and Excellence (which includes a data team) to ensure everybody is counted.
These teams are creating an engagement & communications strategy and are currently finalizing their plans. Most of our work will manifest in the new year, however some key actions will be taking place before the end of the year.
Some examples of the planned work include: hiring and supporting temporary outreach and engagement specialists specifically focused on Hard to Count communities; hosting job fairs, community events; and meeting regularly with cities, the state, and organizations doing Census work.
Update: Hennepin’s Current Funding Allocation
Currently, Hennepin has set aside $320,000 in the approved 2020 budget for 2020 Census work — I do not believe this is enough. During the 2020 budget process, my office introduced amendments to increase Census funding to be equivalent of $1 per person, a total of $1.2 million. The proposed funding included increased staff dedicated to Census work as well as grants to Hennepin cities to fund efforts specifically toward counting Hard to Count persons. My amendments failed 5-2, with Commissioner Conley joining me to vote in favor.
My office will be working to pass more funding for Census work in early 2020. We have been talking to many cities who are asking for direct help from Hennepin in their efforts to count everyone. This was part of the impetus behind my proposed amendments and since the vote, many leaders in these cities have reached out to express their disappointment in the amendments failing, and asked what we can do to find them more funding.
Call to Action: What Can I Do?
We need your help to make sure everyone gets counted! 965,000 Minnesotans will not fill out the Census without additional follow-up. 230,000 of them are in Hennepin County. Each person we don’t count is $28,000 per decade in federal funding that Minnesota does not receive.
Census Day is April 1, 2020. Counting will begin at the end of March and go through the end of the year, but where you live on April 1 is the address you use when filling out the Census. You can do this by educating your friends and networks. You can also apply to work for the Census, in Hennepin Census workers will make $27.50/hour.
Contact your Hennepin County Commissioner and tell them you want more funding for Census work. Minnesota is putting in 14% of what Washington and less than 6% of what California is per person. This means it’s up to Hennepin County to make sure our residents are counted. Contact your Commissioner. Or click here to learn who your Commissioner is.