It happens every ten years, and it is one of the most important events affecting the funding of public education in America — the census.

Your support is vital for the accurate count and appropriate, fair-share funding for Georgia's schools.

In 1990, about two million children were left out of the decennial census count. Many of these omissions resulted from parents and guardians filling out census forms without including the children in their care.

For nearly 10 years, this underreporting has had a profound impact on funding in the school districts and communities where these children live. It is important that this unfortunate mistake does not happen again.

Census numbers are used to plan for the future. In communities across Georgia, they help determine the location of new schools and parks, enable transportation improvements, and help to evaluate the need for services such as day care and assistance to the elderly.

With Coweta County growing at our present rapid rate, it is important that everyone complete the Census 2000 form so that all governmental agencies can plan based on accurate numbers.

The numbers collected by the census help to distribute over $200 billion in federal funds to the states each year. This is your money, and it can only return to Georgia and Coweta County based on accurate census reporting. When Georgians are not counted, it means that we do not get our fair share of these resources.

Census counts also yield maps which are used for emergency 911 systems. When natural disasters such as floods and tornadoes occur, the census numbers are used to help determine how many people may be affected and need help.

In addition, information from the census helps companies decide whether they should locate in a community. We in Coweta County have seen this happening on a large scale lately. As we prepare our young people for the world of work, it is good to know that we can also do our part in helping to provide future jobs for them by working for an accurate Census 2000.

These numbers will be used for the next ten years to convince businesses that Georgia and Coweta County are good places to be and that we have a work force ready to meet their needs.

Census records are kept confidential for 72 years. Many people falsely fear that census information is shared with other agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Immigration; however, this is not the case. The purpose of the Census 2000 is not to “catch” people, but rather to accurately distribute the tax funds that we routinely pay.

You can use your personal census information to obtain proof of age or residence, establish citizenship, or obtain a rightful inheritance. You can even use census records prior to 1930 to research your family history.

I encourage every citizen of Coweta County to complete and return your Census 2000 form. If you do not receive one, please call the local Census 2000 office at 770-252-7739.

Your support will help to ensure that the students of Georgia and Coweta County get what they deserve in resources for education. In 1990, a neighboring county boasted the highest return rate in the state at 76 percent. I believe that Coweta County can and should have the best response possible.

We will have to live with the results of Census 2000 for the next 10 years. Let's stand up and be counted for the sake of our students and continue to make Coweta County a place where good schools are a great investment.

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