Census 2020 extension (10-4-20)

Alan van zandt the trump administration had wanted the national census the country conducts every ten years to wrap up tomorrow.

However, a judge has extended that time until the end of the month.

Kq2's madeline mcclain talked with to city leaders and heard why they say it's important that everyone fill out their census forms completely.

<<kq2's madeline mcclain reporting:the national headcount has much of an impact if not more -- than voting.it happens once, every 10 years.the results ripple through your city, school, police and hospital.mary robertson, city of st.

Joseph: "the more people that are counted in the truly, accurate count gives us that allocation of funding that everybody needs."the 2020 census deadline keeps moving -- but the stakes haven't changed.it determines how much federal money we get -- and our representation in congress.

Mary robertson, city of st.

Joseph: "some of our most at risk populations need those services.

Renters, homeless individuals need those services more than you or i may need them at this point in time and it's challenging to get those folks in a good year to be counted."as of friday -- about 66 percent of americans responded by mail, phone or online.missouri trails the country -- and st.

Joseph trails missouri.and they all trail 2010 census counts.

According to the missouri health foundation -- the 2010 census cost missouri millions of dollars in federal funding.

Mary robertson, city of st.

Joseph: "right now we are at 64.6%.

In 2010 our self-response rate was 70% so a little bit behind where we were."the less people who live in st.

Joseph -- the less money the federal government sends.how much money?for every missourian that isn't counted when the clock runs out state will lose about $1,300 in federal dollars per person every year.mary robertson, city of st.

Joseph:"that federal funding goes toward, public transportation, public safety, emergency food and shelter services.

You know when we went through the flooding in the southside with the pandemic that we are going through these are all services that we are being used.

Public education, even infrastructure.

All of that we get federal funding based on the numbers of the population in our community."at the state level -- it's approximately 16.5 billion every year based on census data.mary robertson, city of st.

Joseph: "less at the forefront but just as important, people don't realize that our congressional seats are based on our census numbers as well."and the 2010 census cost missouri a congressional seat.once again -- we haven't even participated in the count like we did that year.mary robertson, city of st.

Joseph: "the more people that are accurately counted the better representation we get at both the federal and state level.'

So if you are sick of potholes pockmarking your streets lack of help when a flood hits or maybe you just wish our teachers or police officers were paid better you take a few minutes to fill out the census.mary robertson, city of st.

Joseph: it's very safe, it's very secure and it's so very important.'

Reporting in st.

Joseph, madeline mcclain kq2 news.>> visit 2020census-dot-gov to make sure you are counted.