The 2020 Census is about a month away and local government remains hard at work to make sure everyone gets counted. The census determines how $675 billion dollars of federal funding gets distributed.

The U.S. Census Bureau has counted the countries’ population every 10 years since 1790. The money that North Carolina gets from federal and state government is dependent on the number of people counted.

Orange County Board of Commissioner, Sally Greene, said each person in the county plays a big part in garnering funding from the government.

“Every person who is counted in the census in North Carolina is going to pull down for their county $1,623 dollars from the federal government and an additional $200 dollars from the state government,” Greene said. “So for everybody that we miss, that’s that much money that’s left on the table.”

As Census Day on April 1 grows closer, Greene said residents can expect a letter between March 12 and 20 asking to go online or respond to the census via mail. This is the first year people can respond to the census online.

A week after the initial letter, you will get another reminder letter, whether you have already filled out the census or not.

“Those are already set to go out, so you may get one and think ‘wait a minute I just did this’ but just bear in mind that that’s how the program runs,” Greene said.

After that, if you still don’t fill out the census form, you will get a final reminder postcard in late April and then the last resort will be census workers out door-knocking in local neighborhoods.

Greene said Orange County is currently facing a shortage of these Census workers – including the people who go around knocking on doors. She said these jobs are crucial for getting an accurate population count and could also be beneficial to your wallet.

“Those are fairly good part-time hourly jobs,” Greene said. “They pay $13.50 or more per hour plus gas and other expenses. So if you’re interested in those jobs, go to 2020census.gov/jobs and you can apply online.”

While these in-person door-knockers and other census workers will be very clearly identified, with visible badges and ID, Greene said that’s not the case for potential scammers online.

She said people should use caution as they receive information about the census online, as there have already been several cases of online scamming in North Carolina.

“When you get information from the census, it’s not going to ask for your social security number, it’s not going to ask for a credit card and it’s not going to ask for a political donation,” Greene said.

Overall, Greene said the most important thing to do as we move closer to census day on April 1 is to cooperate, sign up and be counted.

(Photo courtesy of Orange County government)

Related Stories
‹
Judy Miller's Not Ready for the Farm: Scams: The Billions-Of-Dollars Problem
Scams and fraud are becoming more sophisticated every year, impacting people of all ages and backgrounds. In this episode, Judy and Jess welcome a very special guest, Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, to discuss the growing threat of scams and the challenges of fighting fraud in today's technology-driven world. Russ shares insights from his work, practical advice for protecting yourself, and why awareness remains one of the most powerful tools we have. Not Ready for the Farm is proudly presented by: The 79°West Innovation Hub, Clarity Legal Group, West Fork Wealth Management, Health Source Chiropractic, Purple Puddle, and HOPE Renovations.
Local Governments Facing 'Years-Long' Recovery from Chantal's Floods, But Progress is Being Made
One year after Tropical Storm Chantal’s significant rainfall flooded several areas in the Triangle, the region’s local governments are still adjusting to its physical and financial impacts.
How Will Orange County Fill Bedford's Vacant Seat? Two Groups Will Decide
As Jamezetta Bedford's peers continue to process her death, they also have decisions to make on who will fill her vacant District 1 seat.
Last-Ditch Effort to Trim Tax Increase Splits Orange County Commissioners; Budget Passes with Higher Rate
Orange County approved its budget plan for Fiscal Year 2027-28 with a 4.22-cent tax increase. But its approval wasn't without some bumps.
Here Are the Orange County Local Governments’ Approved Budgets, Tax Rates for 2026-27
The final totals and changes for Orange County governments' budgets are being finalized. Here are the details of each approved so far.
Chapel Hill Approves FY27 Budget with No Tax Increases; Will Revisit Library Funding, Greenways in Fall
The unanimous vote approved the Town of Chapel Hill to operate on a $170 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, a slight increase.
Orange County Juneteenth Celebrations to Take Place Across Two Weekends. Here's What to Know
This year's local Juneteenth events are set to take place across various weekends. Here’s how Orange County’s governments are celebrating.
Following Budget Talks, Orange County Commissioners Prepare to Raise Taxes for More School Funding
Voicing a desire to better fund its public school systems, the Orange County Board of Commissioners is poised to further raise taxes in FY27.
No Tax Increases and Increased Spending Featured in Chapel Hill Staff's Proposed FY27 Budget
Following a year with improved revenues and a new town manager at the helm, the Town of Chapel Hill may go into the next fiscal year without a tax increase or significant cuts.
2026 Candidate Introductions: Orange County Register of Deeds
With the current Orange County Register of Deeds Mark Chilton retiring from the role after 12 years, the race to replace him is on.
›