Census could mean a little more money for St. Charles area

A decade ago, the U.S. Census ranked St. Charles as the 137th largest community in Illinois with about 28,000 residents. The latest population estimate, as of 2008, indicates St. Charles might move up the ladder a bit with nearly 33,000 residents. If the growth holds true, it could mean more money flowing into the community.

The decennial Census is more than just a head count. More than $400 billion in federal funds gets divvied up among the states based on where people live. In particular, Medicaid, money for school breakfast and lunch programs, funding for the State Children's Insurance Program and cash for roads and bridges all ties back to having an accurate Census count.

"Billions of dollars in funding for these types of projects are at stake," St. Charles Spokeswoman Beth Mund said. "An incomplete count could mean our community misses out."

Having an accurate count isn't as easy as it sounds with many homes having growing to include extended family in the down economy and other households completely vanishing in foreclosure.

Back in 2000, a report by the U.S. Census monitoring board indicated undercounting of residents cost the nation's 58 largest counties $2,913 per uncounted person. That total only accounts for money flowing from eight of the federal government's largest grant programs. Cook County, for instance, will lose out on an estimated $193 million in federal funds from 2002-2012 because of undercounting that occurred in the 2000 Census.

Mund said the city is excited about getting a complete county not just for the federal funding implications, but because the effort of the count will bring several new full and part-time Census jobs to the area that will ease unemployment numbers in the Fox Valley.

"The Census count is already under way in Alaska, and it's been a huge cultural celebration for them," Mund said. "There's no reason why it can't be that for all of us."