Census nearing final tally

COEUR d'ALENE - It's the final wave before the numbers are crunched.

Once they are, what's Coeur d'Alene's count going to be?

In 2000, the Lake City had 34,514 people. In 2009, it was up to 43,805. In 2010?

They're still tracking everyone down to find out.

"We've been talking about how important this is for a while," said Stacy McBain, media specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau. "There's one last chance to stand up and be counted."

The final count for the 2010 Census is under way. Workers across Idaho have recently wrapped up visiting households that didn't mail back their 2010 Census forms, and from now until August they'll be visiting around 5 percent of the homes to verify that the information is accurate.

They'll also be confirming housing units classified as vacant or nonexistent, and could call to clarify inconsistent answers about the number of people living at an address.

So if you mailed back your form and they still come knocking, it's just a little fact checking.

"We're asking people to be patient," McBain said. "And to be sure to know they are a part of a small sample and it will take a very small amount of time."

The every-decade count eventually determines boundaries for state and local legislative and congressional districts. More than $400 billion in federal funds are distributed annually based on the population data to pay for programs and services from schools to highways, vocational training and emergency services, among others.

In Idaho, around 5,000 people were put to work tallying the Gem State's count. Around 3,100 of those workers tracked down the people who didn't mail back their questionnaire. But all in all, Idaho complied with mailing back the form, making their jobs a little easier.

In Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, 76 percent of residents mailed the form back, better than the national average of 72 percent.

"We consider that a good accomplishment," McBain said, especially since there seems to be more mistrust for the federal government out there compared to years past.

"I think its fair to say there is a little more concern right now," she said.

Once the fact checking finishes, the number crunch commences, and by March, Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho and the nation should know their new numbers.

For those who feel they've been missed, who never received a questionnaire in the mail and never heard a knock at their door, there's a phone number to call to record your count: (866) 872-6868.

Don't be fooled by possible impostors either. Census workers will not ask for Social Security numbers, bank account information or credit card information. Census workers also will not solicit for donations, and will never contact someone via e-mail and will not ask about citizenship status.