Recently it has been brought to our attention that there is some confusion regarding the 2010 U.S. Census. The census is administered every 10 years and serves as an invaluable tool for our government.

Please be advised that the official one-page U.S. Census is not going to be administered until February/March of 2010. However, the U.S. Department of Commerce is also coordinating a separate, longer questionnaire program. The American Community Survey runs several pages and asks detailed questions designed to help cities, counties and states allocate resources more efficiently. Each year approximately 3 million households in the United States and Puerto Rico are selected to participate.

By law, the results of both the official U.S. Census and the American Community Survey are kept strictly confidential and at no time will anyone be asked to provide information with which you can be personally identified. In addition, no government agencies outside the U.S. Census Bureau will have access to anyone’s personal answers at any time.

Participation in both the official U.S. Census and the American Community Survey is required by law. If you choose not to answer questions or provide false answers for either survey, federal law says you shall be fined no more than $100.

If you have any questions or concerns on the matter, the U.S. Census Bureau can be reached at (301) 763-3691 or on the internet at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/. For more information about the American Community Survey, visit http://www.census.gov/acs/www/.