Washington state’s growing population helps fuel our economy, but it also adds traffic and impacts our schools and other public services.
Federal taxes paid around the country are returned to states, counties, and cities based on population. That means the more residents we can account for, the more money we stand to receive for our schools, roads, parks, and libraries. And the more federal funding we receive for public health programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, the less strain is put on resources here at the local level.
All told, $675 billion will be distributed based on the new population figures from the 2020 Census. (For the sake of context, a million seconds is 12 days. A billion seconds is 31 years.) It’s critical that every person be counted so that Washington state, Pierce County and the City of Puyallup receive our fair share of these public funds.
And this isn’t only about money--it’s also about the weight of our voice in Congress. Census results determine how many representatives each state has in the other Washington.
Remember, the Census is more than just about counting people, it’s about how many people live where. Being counted is an easy way to benefit our community. It’s fast, it’s confidential, and it matters.
To learn more, visit https://2020census.gov/.