We need to do better responding to census

To the Editor:

Did you receive your census notification yet?

If you did, have you completed it and returned it?

As of Monday, 56.2  percent of Altamont's residents have responded. Although this is higher than New York State’s total response rate, Altamont's response rate is less than our neighbors in Voorheesville. We need to do better!

It is very important for our village residents to provide an accurate count. For every person not counted, we estimate that the village will lose $10,000 in revenue from the county, state, and federal governments.  To maintain services, the village government may have to increase taxes, which is something none of us want.

There are several ways to complete the census. Some people choose to do it online through the census website; others prefer to wait until they are sent a paper form that they can fill out and mail in; still others give their answers to a census representative over the phone. Each of those ways is perfectly fine. We just need to do it!

— If you received a census notification with a specific ID code in the mail, go to the link:  my2020census.gov, enter your ID code where noted, and complete the form.

— If you have received a census questionnaire by mail, complete it, and mail it back in the provided envelope, postage free.

— If you do not receive a mailing with a specific ID code, go to the link above, click on the button that says, “If you do not have a Census ID click here,” and you will be led through a series of questions after you enter your home address.

— If you do not or cannot complete the form online, you can contact the census by phone to complete the form. Call toll-free: 1-844-330-2020.

However you complete the form, it’s easy and takes less than 10 minutes!

If you need any assistance, you can call the Altamont Free Library at 518-861-7239 and leave a voicemail message or email Director Joe Burke at with any questions you have about the census. You can also check out census resources on the library’s website at AltamontFreeLibrary.org (just click the census icon on the sliding menu).

Thanks again for your help in getting everyone counted.

Jim Gaughan

Mayor 2005-17

Altamont

 

Joe Burke

Director

Altamont Free Library

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