City, county officials urge filling out 2020 census to avoid losing federal funding

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – On Monday, officials with the city of Bowling Green and Warren County announced Census Kickoff Day.

It’s a way to prepare the community for the 2020 census.

Those elected leaders are encouraging everyone to fill it out to avoid a loss of federal funding.

Bowling Green residents will be receiving a census in a couple of months.

According to City Commissioner Sue Parrigin, for the first time in history, people will be able to fill it out online.

The census data is needed for several reasons.

One being the federal government allots billions of dollars across the nation based on population and community needs like transportation, elderly care, infrastructure dollars and more.

Parrigin says there is a downside to not filling out the census.

“For each person that does not participate that would be a loss in federal revenue funds coming to the community per year. It’s a ten-year census. If one person does not participate in the census, that’s 10,000 for that person. If we miss 100 people, you can see what that would look like,” said Parrigin.

The census will go live in just two months on www.census.gov

If you don’t fill it out online or by mail, someone will come to your home to help you do so.