County residents have Census aid options

Published 12:00 am Saturday, March 18, 2000

More than 120 million U.S. Census questionnaires began arriving in mailboxes across the country last week, prompting some questions from area residents.

In Adams&160;County, residents can get help from organizations such as the Natchez Veterans Service Office and the Natchez&160;Senior Citizen Multipurpose Center.

Natchez Senior Center Director Sabrena Bartley said her office has already mailed about 25 forms and has another stack ready to be mailed.

Email newsletter signup

Sometimes people have trouble reading the forms so office staff will read the questions for them, she said. &uot;We are available for any senior that needs help it they want to come by,&uot; Bartley said.

Veterans Services Director Yvonne Robbins said her staff will help veterans and their dependents with their Census forms. Robbins admits some of the questions on the forms can be confusing.

For example, she was not sure if the Census bureau wanted the total amount she owed on property taxes or her senior discount amount.

The count’s purpose is to allocate U.S. House seats and determine how billions of federal dollars are spent.

&uot;Without a complete count we could lose millions right here in Adams County,&uot;&160;said Percy Washington, chairman of the Natchez-Adams County Complete Count Committee.

And Mississippi is also in danger of losing a seat in the U.S. House if everyone is not counted, he added.