• Mayor Barrett kicks off 2010 Census
• Complete count committee to make sure count is as accurate as possible
• Emphasis on historically undercounted populations

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett hosted the 2010 census kickoff last Wednesday as part of a city-wide effort to make sure Milwaukee's census count is accurate and complete.

"It is critically important for the people of Milwaukee to be counted accurately and vigorously — that means everyone," said Jodie Tabak, spokeswoman for the office of the mayor, in an e-mail.

The event took place exactly one year in advance of next year's census count on April 1.

The census, which is constitutionally required once every 10 years, is the basis for billions of dollars of federal, state and county funds.

"The importance of ensuring that every resident is counted has far greater ramifications than just completing an accurate count of the population of the United States," Tabak said. "It is used for urban planning, health and education services and public transportation among many other things."

Barrett discussed the Complete Count Committee, which "will focus on finding individuals who have traditionally been left out of the census, including those below the poverty level, those receiving public assistance and those who speak a language other than English," the mayor's office said in a statement.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, undercounting was at its worst in 1990, and minorities suffered the most. An approximate 4.5 percent of Blacks were missed; 4.8 percent of Asians and Pacific Islanders were missed; 3.8 percent of Hispanics (of any race) were missed; and 5 percent of American Indians and Native Alaskans were missed. Whites had an undercount rate of only 0.9 percent.

In the release, Barrett acknowledged the fact that undercounting was not as big a problem in 2000, but an aggressive approach to the upcoming census would yield the best results.

Jerry Ann Hamilton, president of NAACP Milwaukee, said making sure everyone is counted is a benefit to everyone.

"We plan to do whatever we can to ensure everyone is counted," Hamilton said. "It is a benefit to everyone."

Hamilton joined representatives of other historically undercounted populations, including Hispanic, Hmong and Native American leaders.

"All of our people will work over the next year to make sure that the census is accurate and complete," Hamilton said.

Chia Youyee Vang, an assistant professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, said in an e-mail that it is vital that the Hmong community take an active role in making sure everyone is counted.

"In the past there has been a problem with undercounting among Hmong," Vang said.

In the release, the mayor's office said the count was not just important for funding, but for correct legislative counts too.

"The census determines the districts of the state Legislature and the number of seats that Wisconsin will have in the United States Congress," Tabak said. "This directly affects our representation and the state's voice in our government."