Local leaders learned important information about the upcoming 2020 Decennial Census at a meeting that was recently hosted by the Montgomery County Board and County Clerk Sandy Leitheiser.

Census training was provided by the County's U.S. Census Bureau Partnership Specialist Jennequil Johnson of Chicago. Ms. Johnson informed those in attendance about important census activities timelines, the privacy of census information as required by law, and the questions required to be answered in the upcoming census. She also encouraged those in attendance to help educate and motivate Montgomery County citizens to complete their census form, which can be done online for the first time in census history.

Leitheiser emphasized the importance of all Montgomery County residents participating in the census to obtain an accurate count, which she said is necessary for maintaining current legislative seats at the federal and state levels and determining funding received for a wide variety of government services.

Group discussion also included the necessity to localize census efforts by recruiting county residents to serve as census workers who will be familiar with our county communities. Johnson stated Montgomery County still needs many more census workers and said enumeration duties are beginning soon to confirm the structures throughout the county in advance of counting population next spring.

Those interested in applying for census jobs may do so now online at 2020census.gov/jobs. Those needing more general information about the upcoming census may contact Leitheiser by email at sandyl@montgomeryco.com, or by calling 217-532-9530.