Subject:

Census letters mailed to McCracken County Residents

Date:

March 22, 2010

The McCracken County Sheriff's Department have began receiving a few calls from McCracken County residents concerning census letters and forms they have been receiving in the mail this month.

The concerns voiced by a few of our residents were based on the residents financial information that was requested on the form. Another concern noted was whether or not these forms and follow-up telephone calls from the Census Bureau were legitimate.

Contact was made with the Census Bureau Monday morning. We were told that Kentucky residents should have started receiving the questionnaires this month. All Kentucky residents will receive the 2010 Census form which is blue and white in color. Other Kentucky residents at a much smaller percentage will also receive the American Community Survey which is green and white in color. This form requests much more information that the 2010 Census Form.

Officials with the Census Bureau we spoke to this morning told us that any resident that does not feel comfortable providing some of the information requested, need simply to not answer those questions. Information requested in the American Community Survey (which is green and white)  is to enable the bureau to "get an economic and demographic snapshot of each community", according to census officials we spoke with this morning.

"The main concern from the residents we have spoken with locally, was their concern on whether or not the forms and follow-up telephone calls they had been receiving was legitimate."

We would suggest that anyone with questions about the forms they receive being authentic, simply visit the Census Bureau website located at www.census.gov , or call the Census Bureau at (888) 419-7586. Sample copies of the two questionnaires being sent out across the United States are shown on their website.

Thanks,

Sheriff Jon Hayden