City of Columbus and Franklin County officials announced a new 2020 Census committee on Wednesday tasked with ensuring all residents are counted.
The Complete Count Committee brings together community partners across the county, from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission to the Community Shelter Board, to make sure the upcoming census includes all populations, especially residents from typically underrepresented groups.
Because information from the 2020 Census will help determine federal funding for state and local governments, Columbus City Council president Shannon Hardin says accurate and comprehensive data are critical.
鈥淲e must recognize the diversity of our different neighborhoods and cultures to ensure our community can access the federal funds to create jobs provide housing, prepare for emergencies and build schools, roads and hospitals,鈥� Hardin says.
The committee is closing watching a U.S. Supreme Court case over a the Trump administration moved to include on the census. Critics worry the question could lead to an undercount of immigrants and communities of color.
Refugee and immigration subcommittee chair Angie Plummer says the committee will decide on its policy once the court's decision comes down.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 want to encourage people to participate in a process that will ultimately hurt them,鈥� Plummer said.
On Wednesday, a blocked the Trump administration from including the census question, saying it was unconstitutional and violated administrative law.
Franklin County is the fastest growing-county in the state, recently surpassing Cuyahoga County for the most residents. Along with economic and other development funding, census data is also used to allocate Medicaid, SNAP and temporary assistance dollars.
