Quick response to census urged

October 14, 1999|By JULIE E. GREENE

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Berkeley County residents can save taxpayer dollars by responding quickly to Census 2000 surveys next year, said Katherine H. Shiflet of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Starting the second week of March, census surveys will be mailed to city residents and Census Bureau employees will go door-to-door in rural areas, said Shiflet, who addressed both the Berkeley County Commission and Martinsburg City Council Thursday.

Residents are asked to fill in and mail the surveys as soon as possible, she said.

After four to five weeks, Census Bureau employees will go door-to-door in cities to get surveys from people who didn't mail them, she said.

The more people who mail in the questionnaires quickly, the fewer people who will have to be hired to go door-to-door, Shiflet said.

In 1990, only 65 percent of West Virginia residents responded initially to the census count, Shiflet said. She'd like to see that improve to 70 percent.

Berkeley County Commission President D. Wayne Dunham said many county residents have been slow to mail in their address conversion cards for the 911 system. The yellow cards were sent out last November.

Most of the Census 2000 survey is expected to be done by August 2000, Shiflet said.

The results of the survey will be released to the public in January and February 2001, she said.

About 100 to 150 people will be hired in Berkeley County for the census, Shiflet said. The jobs are temporary and part time.

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