MACo Policy Associate Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony in support of House Bill 988, “2020 Census Grant Program – Establishment and Funding”, to the House Appropriations Committee on February 20, 2018.

This bill would allow local governments to seek matching grant funds to help conduct a fair and accurate census. Governments at every level use data from the census to allocate appropriate funding and resources. An accurate count affects the local economy and the ability of local governments to effectively provide services for years after the census is taken.

From MACo Testimony:

Census data is used to allocate billions of dollars in federal funding for education, health, transportation, housing, community services, and job training. Moreover, businesses and industries decide where to locate new facilities and services based on census data, creating new jobs and promoting economic growth.

An accurate census count, or lack thereof, has a lasting effect on counties, particularly when it comes to the distribution of federal funds. An under-counted population may lead to a significant decline in federal funding flowing to county governments or to county residents.

HB 988 creates an efficient and effective system for leveraging state and local resources to support a more accurate 2020 Census, paving the way for a fair and equitable flow of resources to the State and its local jurisdictions.”

Follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2018 legislative session here.