Round Lake Beach wants everyone accounted for

Census Day isn't until April, 1 but Round Lake Beach is accelerating a campaign to make sure everyone is counted.

The village last week authorized a "complete count committee" to spread the word about the upcoming census through local events and other measures.

Ensuring an accurate count is important because some state and federal dollars are distributed based on population.

Round Lake Beach, for example, received nearly $3 million last budget year in state motor fuel, income and personal property replacement taxes.

However, gathering the information isn't always as simple as knocking on a door and getting someone to answer a questionnaire. Potential snags become more evident with an immigrant population that may be suspicious of authority or releasing personal information.

"Usually, Latinos are hard to count," said Carolina Duque, executive director of Mano a Mano Family Resource Center in Round Lake Park. "Sometimes, they are intimidated. They don't know if it's safe to respond."

The organization during its most recent budget year assisted more than 3,100 low-income area residents.

Duque is on the complete count committee, which is working on a marketing plan.

Information regarding the census will be included in an upcoming village newsletter and on its Web site, for example. Public events also are expected.

The U.S. Census Bureau is pushing complete count committees of local governments and/or community leaders to reach traditionally undercounted populations. North Chicago and Waukegan, for example, have them and will meet Wednesday with census officials to discuss the local role in the process.

By law, the Census Bureau can't share individual information with anyone, including other federal agencies or law enforcement agencies.

Questionnaires for the 2010 Decennial Census have been streamlined to include only 10 questions. Respondents are not asked for their legal status.

According to the most recent census estimates, Round Lake Beach has a population of 28,845. Of that total, 12,992 or 45 percent are Hispanic or Latino.

Duque said census-related information will be shared with clients during computer or English as a second language classes, for example, "to make sure they all know the importance of participating."

About three-quarters of Mano a Mano clients are from the Round Lake area, and nearly half of those come from Round Lake Beach, she said.

Mano a Mano also has asked to be designated as a census office for the area.

Round Lake Beach spokeswoman Monica Marr said a meeting with all the Round Lake communities will be held to coordinate efforts and avoid duplication.