Editorial: Nevadans: Stand and be counted

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999 | 9:33 a.m.

Some of the benefits of our booming local economy have included plentiful jobs, increased cultural offerings and a plethora of new restaurants and retail stores. But one of the less obvious benefits of being the fastest-growing state in the nation is that Nevada is entitled to a greater share of federal funds.

That assumes we take a few minutes out of our busy schedules to fill out U.S. Census forms. But a funny thing happened to Nevada on the way to the federal trough 10 years ago. We blew it.

The Associated Press reported that when the 1990 Census was taken, about 29,000 Nevadans somehow weren't counted. That oversight cost the state about $20 million a year, or $200 million over the past decade, according to Secretary of State Dean Heller.

That $200 million has been sorely missed. Just ask the folks in charge of modernizing our public schools, serving our mental health patients or caring for our foster children. You could repair numerous streets with that kind of money. You could even build a modern basketball arena.

Nevada should be ashamed of its lackadaisical performance during the 1990 Census. Only 53 percent of the state's households returned Census questionnaires, compared to an 85 percent return rate nationally. We were sixth worst in the nation.

We can ill-afford a repeat performance during the 2000 Census. Our state has grown to 1.7 million, a 45 percent increase since the last census. Failure to return forms could cost Nevada hundreds of millions of federal dollars over the next 10 years. Some politicians in this state have bemoaned the fact that Nevada hasn't received its fair share of federal funds. Failure to return census forms was obviously one of the culprits.

There is no reason not to fill out the questionnaires. Anyone concerned about revealing personal information ought to be comforted by the fact that federal law requires the Census Bureau to keep this information confidential for the next 72 years. No other state or federal agency is allowed access to the questionnaires.

Do everyone in the state a favor when the 2000 Census forms are mailed to households next April. Fill them out so that there is an accurate count of every adult and child. It has already been assumed that we will get a third U.S. House seat because of our population growth. It also would be nice to get the federal money we deserve.