Frankfort Builds Awareness Of 2020 Census

FRANKFORT, IL — The Frankfort Complete Count Committee recently held a kickoff meeting at the Village of Frankfort Administration Building to discuss ways to engage, educate and encourage citizen participation in the 2020 Census. The village said a complete census count is important to Frankfort residents because the census population determines the amount of state income tax sharing, use tax (including the tax from internet purchases) and motor fuel taxes distributed to Frankfort from the state.

These payments will be nearly $3 million in 2019. The census also determines representation in congress and the distribution of $675 billion from the federal government to the states, the village said.

The Complete Count Committee includes representatives from the Frankfort Chamber of
Commerce, Frankfort Park District, Frankfort Public Library District, Frankfort Square Park District, Frankfort Township, Frankfort School District 157-C, Lincoln-Way District 210, Summit Hill School District 161 and the village of Frankfort.

The village said members brainstormed various ways to build awareness of the 2020 census through messages in local publications, social media platforms, booths at community events and outreach efforts for hard to count populations.

“A significant portion of the Village’s income for the next ten years will be based on the census count that will be taken on April 1, 2020," Mayor Jim Holland said in a release. "We ask residents to promptly complete and submit the simple census form that will be sent to them this winter. If you are a resident of Frankfort, but will be spending time at a second home or you are outside the Frankfort area on April 1, it is most important for you to be counted at your principal residence in Frankfort and not at your winter home. Your participation in the census helps reduce the upward pressure on local taxes.”

Activities to support the 2020 Census will continue throughout the coming months.