It happens

every ten years, and it is one of the most important

events affecting the funding of public education in

America - the census.

Your

support is vital for the accurate count and appropriate,

fair-share funding for Georgia's schools.

In 1990,

about two million children were left out of the decennial

census count. Many of these omissions resulted from

parents and guardians filling out census forms without

including the children in their care.

For nearly

10 years, this underreporting has had a profound impact

on funding in the school districts and communities where

these children live. It is important that this

unfortunate mistake does not happen again.

Census

numbers are used to plan for the future. In communities

across Georgia, they help determine the location of new

schools and parks, enable transportation improvements,

and help to evaluate the need for services such as day

care and assistance to the elderly.

With Coweta

County growing at our present rapid rate, it is important

that everyone complete the Census 2000 form so that all

governmental agencies can plan based on accurate numbers.

The numbers

collected by the census help to distribute over $200

billion in federal funds to the states each year. This is

your money, and it can only return to Georgia and Coweta

County based on accurate census reporting. When Georgians

are not counted, it means that we do not get our fair

share of these resources.

Census

counts also yield maps which are used for emergency 911

systems. When natural disasters such as floods and

tornadoes occur, the census numbers are used to help

determine how many people may be affected and need help.

In

addition, information from the census helps companies

decide whether they should locate in a community. We in

Coweta County have seen this happening on a large scale

lately. As we prepare our young people for the world of

work, it is good to know that we can also do our part in

helping to provide future jobs for them by working for an

accurate Census 2000.

These

numbers will be used for the next ten years to convince

businesses that Georgia and Coweta County are good places

to be and that we have a work force ready to meet their

needs.

Census

records are kept confidential for 72 years. Many people

falsely fear that census information is shared with other

agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service or the

Department of Immigration; however, this is not the case.

The purpose of the Census 2000 is not to

"catch" people, but rather to accurately

distribute the tax funds that we routinely pay.

You can use

your personal census information to obtain proof of age

or residence, establish citizenship, or obtain a rightful

inheritance. You can even use census records prior to

1930 to research your family history.

I encourage

every citizen of Coweta County to complete and return

your Census 2000 form. If you do not receive one, please

call the local Census 2000 office at 770-252-7739.

Your

support will help to ensure that the students of Georgia

and Coweta County get what they deserve in resources for

education. In 1990, a neighboring county boasted the

highest return rate in the state at 76 percent. I believe

that Coweta County can and should have the best response

possible.

We will

have to live with the results of Census 2000 for the next

10 years. Let's stand up and be counted for the sake of

our students and continue to make Coweta County a place

where good schools are a great investment.