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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: John Russell, Grant Writer
DATE: May 16, 2019
SUBJECT:
Requesting approval to accept a grant of $87,575 from the Illinois Secretary of State to assist the City of Aurora in establishing a Complete Count program for the 2020 U.S. Census.
PURPOSE:
The City, in cooperation with other local agencies, will create a Complete Count Committee for the 2020 U.S. Census. The Complete Count Committee will coordinate outreach activities with local partners to ensure all residents are counted in the upcoming Decennial Census.
BACKGROUND:
The City has been awarded a pair of grants to establish a Complete Count Committee, which will target hard-to-count census tracts. The City has received a grant of $87,575 from the State; and in partnership with Fox Valley United Way, a $40,000 grant from Forefront, to assist in the 2020 Complete Count.
DISCUSSION:
Many municipalities and other government entities are concerned that there may not be a complete count in the 2020 Census, in large part because of changes being made by the U.S. Census Bureau -- residents will be required to enter their Census information on-line, and the Census form may include a question about citizenship. The Complete Count Committee will be tasked with reaching out to low-income residents, minorities, senior citizens and others who may have a hard time participating or be reluctant to participate in the 2020 count. Grant funding will be used to: hire a temporary Complete Count Coordinator and two temporary Complete Count Outreach Workers; purchase Personal Computers for the Complete Count staff to use in their outreach efforts; and create printed materials, in English and Spanish, to inform residents about the Census and the importance of their taking part. City staff members from the Community Services Department will work closely with the Complete Count staff. A budget amendment has been created for the Innovation & Core Services Division to receive the grant funding. Funds will be placed in several Expenditure Accounts in 101-1302-419.xx-xx. Grant proceeds will be recorded in Revenue Account 101-1302-334.30-02. The grant will be tracked with Project Number SOS2019.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Grant funding from the Illinois Secretary of State will assist the work of the Aurora Complete Count Committee in getting an accurate count of all of Aurora's hard-to-reach populations. It is estimated that the City receives as much as $246 per person in State Local Government Distribution funds and other population based funding. Thus, an increase of 1,000 residents in the 2020 Census could mean an increase of $240,000 for the City. But if the City's Census Count is not accurate, it could result in a loss of funding from the State and Federal governments for programs where funding is based on population, and a possible loss of representation at the National and State levels.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
I request the City accept the grant of $87,575 from the Illinois Secretary of State, to support the efforts of the City's Complete Count Committee.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution to accept a grant of $87,575 from the Illinois Secretary of State to support the outreach efforts of the Aurora Complete Count Committee for the 2020 U.S. Census.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Secretary of State has awarded the City of Aurora a grant of $87,575 to assist in the work of the City's Complete Count Committee for the upcoming national Census; and
WHEREAS, the Complete Count Committee will focus on senior citizens, minorities, low-income residents and other hard-to-reach Aurora populations; and
WHEREAS, a complete Census count will be needed to ensure the City does not lose representation at the State and Federal levels, and does not lose any State or Federal funding allocations which are based on population; and
WHEREAS, a budget amendment has been created for the Innovation & Core Services Division to receive the grant funding -- Revenue Account 101-1302-334.30-02, Project Number SOS2019)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: The City accepts a grant of $87,575 from the Illinois Secretary of State for the work of the Aurora Complete Count Committee.