The Statewide Focus November Newsletter Final 3 | Page 13

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
Census 2020 Fact Sheet
Billions of Federal Dollars are Distributed to States Based on Census
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New Mexico receives over $6 billion each year through federal programs that allocate funds
on per capita basis
Funds Medicaid, Transportation Grants, Education Grants, Section 8 Housing Vouchers, Com-
munity Development Block Grants, and dozens of other federal programs
Each New Mexican not counted equates to a loss of approximately $3,000 every year for the
next decade
Just a 1% undercount of New Mexicans in 2020 could result in a $600,000,000 loss of funds
over a ten-year period
20,000 people * $3,000 * 10 years ≈ $600,000,000
New Mexico is the State Most Vulnerable to Undercount
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New Mexico’s unique demographics and geography make it the most difficult state to count
In 2000 the net undercount for New Mexico was nearly 2% or over 35,000 people
In 2010 New Mexico had the second lowest response rate in the US 3
Every New Mexican Counts
 Local governments, tribal communities, non-profits, community organizations, faith-based
groups, and anyone concerned with a complete and accurate census count may partner with
the Census Bureau to form a Complete Count Committee
 Complete Count Committees organize targeted campaigns that leverage trusted voices who
can motivate every New Mexican to respond to the census
George Washington University Institute of Public Policy, Counting for Dollars 2020 New Mexico
Price Waterhouse Coopers, Effect of Census 2000 Undercount on Federal Funding to States and Selected Counties, 2000-2012 3 US Census Bureau, 2010 Census
Coverage Measurement Results