Contact: Paul Arthur, Lee County Public Resources

(941) 335-2630

CENSUS FORMS AVAILABLE TO HELP LEE COUNTY GET FULL COUNT

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 4, 2000) – If you haven’t yet responded to the U.S. Census 2000 or have misplaced your form, local officials are urging you to answer the Census questionnaire as quickly as possible so Lee County can meet its target response rate.

As of April 4, about 52 percent of Florida residents had returned their Census forms. Although Lee County is matching that percentage (51 percent), it’s still well below the county’s goal of 66 percent. Response rates for local cities so far are Cape Coral (62 percent), Fort Myers (44 percent), Sanibel (32 percent) and Fort Myers Beach (27 percent).

The “Be Counted” Questionnaires are available:

1. Through the U.S. Census Bureau’s Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Center at 1-800-471-9424;

2. By calling the local office of the Census Bureau at (941) 274-6100;

3. At these additional county government locations –

§ In the lobby of the Lee County Government Administration Building, 2115 Second Street in downtown Fort Myers (forms are in English and Spanish);

§ Next to the Commission Chambers on the second floor of the Old County Courthouse, 2120 Main Street;

§ In the lobby of the Lee County Public Works Building, 1500 Monroe Street.

The higher the mail-in count, the fewer enumerators that will have to be sent door-to-door, and the more accurate the results. Every year, more than $100 billion in federal funding and even more in state funds is awarded to localities based on Census numbers. The lack of a complete count in other communities has cost them millions of dollars in funding. In addition, Census numbers help local planners pick locations for everything from roads to schools and parks.

The Census 2000 questionnaire that most people received asks about only seven subjects: name, sex, age, relationship, Hispanic origin, race, and housing tenure (whether home is owned or rented). Nationwide, five out of six housing units received this short form. The longer form asks about the same seven subjects plus 27 more, including education, ancestry, employment, disability and house heating fuel. One out of six housing units received a long form nationwide.

The Census Bureau’s local office also is looking to fill several full-time positions. Call 274-6100 for details. You can learn more about the Census 2000 by visiting its web site at www.census.gov/dmd/www/2khome.htm.