As Thursday’s “census day” deadline approaches, U.S. Census Bureau officials urge Lampasas County residents to return their census forms as soon as possible.

Participation helps ensure an accurate population count, used to determine the apportionment of members in the United States House of Representatives.

The census also assists in the annual distribution of $400 billion in federal funds, said Jenna Arnold, media specialist for the Dallas Region of the U.S. Census Bureau. The Dallas Region is responsible for the enumeration of persons in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

After Thursday, census officials will begin preparing a list of residents who have not returned their census forms. Those residents will receive an in-person visit from a census worker, Mrs. Arnold said.

“It’s constitutionally mandated that we count every person,” she said.

Because of postal errors, some people may have received a census form with an incorrect address or ZIP code, Mrs. Arnold said. As long as those forms are completed and returned, however, all information will be recorded with the correct address, she said. A 20-digit bar code on the census document corresponds to the exact GPS longitude and latitude coordinates of the correct address, Mrs. Arnold said.

Mail delivery of census paperwork began in the middle of the month. A “very, very small percentage” of Texans in rural areas received hand-delivered census forms, Mrs. Arnold said.

At press time Monday, 27 percent of Texas households that received census forms had responded. The Lampasas County mail participation rate was identical.

Kempner, which had the highest participation rate of incorporated cities in the county, matched the national rate of 36 percent. Lampasas’ participation rate was 29 percent, while only 19 percent of Lometans had returned forms as of Friday.

Census officials expect a substantial increase in responses within the next few days, Mrs. Arnold said, noting that postal delays likely have been resolved.

Those who need help responding to the census can speak with a representative at one of several questionnaire assistance centers in and around Lampasas County.

Help will be available Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce, 205 South U.S. Highway 281, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1-5 p.m. Census assistants also will be at Jackie Williams Real Estate, 216 S. Fourth St. in Lometa, from 1-4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

Other help sites are the Copperas Cove Public Library, 501 S. Main St. in Copperas Cove, Burnet locations at 220 S. Pierce St. and 100 E. Washington St., and First National Bank of Texas in Killeen at 2511 Trimmier Rd., Suite 100.

For more information about help site hours and locations, visit 2010.census.gov/2010census/take- 10map/bcqac-textview.php.

Along with questionnaire help centers, the Census Bureau relies on volunteers to explain and encourage participation in the decennial population county. Complete County Committees consist of “trusted voices in the community” who volunteer to provide information about the importance of the census, Mrs. Arnold said.

National law requires census questionnaire recipients to answer all questions on the census form, she said. Although failure to return a properly completed census form is punishable by a fine not to exceed $5,000, that is rarely enforced, Mrs. Arnold said.

“We’re not a government agency that wants to go around slapping people with fines,” she said. “We find we get better results if we tell people what the benefits [of the census] are.”

As it solicits volunteer help, the Census Bureau also recruits paid workers. In May, about 1.4 million workers will be employed nationally, Mrs. Arnold said.

The toll-free number for scheduling a census employment aptitude test is (866) 861-2010. Callers will be asked to enter their ZIP codes.

Need census help?

Lampasas: Those seeking assistance responding to the 2010 census may stop by the Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce office on U.S. Highway 281 South on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m.

Lometa: Help is available at Jackie Williams Real Estate, 216 S. Fourth St., Mondays and Wednesdays, 1-4 p.m.