Highland County has 69 percent census participation rate

The turnout so far in public response to the 2010 United States is higher in Highland County than the national average. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's Web site, www.census.gov, 69 percent of Highland County residents have returned census information, compared to 56 percent of U.S. residents.

The Census Bureau will continue to accept 2010 Census questionnaires by mail through mid-April. Beginning May 1, census workers will begin going door to door to households that failed to mail back their forms - a massive operation that costs taxpayers an average of $57 per household versus the 42 cents it takes to get a response back by mail.

"The Census Bureau and I would like to thank everyone who has already taken 10 minutes to fill out and mail back the 2010 Census," Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said. "For those who have not yet had a chance to send it back, I'd like to reiterate that it's not too late to participate and doing so will save a lot of taxpayer money."

Both the cities of Greenfield and Hillsboro were listed as having 69 percent participation rate, as well. Highland County's 17 townships had participation rates as follows: Liberty Township, 66 percent; Washington Township, 66 percent; Marshall Township, 57 percent; Brushcreek Township, 57 percent; Jackson Township, 63 percent; Concord Township, 65 percent; Whiteoak Township, 66 percent; Clay Township, 75 percent; Salem Township, 75 percent; Dodson Township, 65 percent;  Union Township, 66 percent; Penn Township, 71 percent; Fairfield Township, 61 percent; Madison Township, 67 percent; Paint Township, 58 percent; Hamer Township, 71 percent; New Market Township, 68 percent.

Area officials have encouraged Highland County residents to participate in the census to ensure an accurate count of the local population, which can lead to federal dollars.

"The money has to go somewhere, it may as well go to us," Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink said. "The federal government dishes out money over a 10-year period and it runs into the millions, billions of dollars. The better head-count you get, the more money you could have access to."

Highland County Commissioner Shane Wilkin said it is positive Highland County's participation rate is so high. 

"I think it's a good thing," Wilkin said. "(The participation rate) is higher than I would have expected. A lot of funding for different programs is based on the people you've got. Not turning it in could do some harm."

Zink said the process of filling out a census form takes about 10 minutes, but the results can be long-lasting.  

"There's nothing too personal in it, but it would mean a whole lot the community they live in," Zink said.