You’ve probably received your 2010 Census form now, or soon will.

Filling it out is required by law. With only 10 questions, the Census Bureau estimates that it will take only about 10 minutes to complete. All answers are kept confidential.

Anyone who has questions about the form or doesn’t receive a form can receive assistance in Carroll County.

Question Assistance Centers will be in operation March 19- April 19 at the following places: Delphi Public Library, Burlington Library, Camden Library, and Flora Public Library. A worker will be there 15 hours a week, but the Census forms will be there in five languages (English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese and Russian) all the time. Hours will likely vary according to the facility.

Be Counted Centers (Census forms only) will be at the Delphi City Building, Burlington Town Hall, Flora Town Hall, and Yeoman Telephone.

People have until mid-April to complete and return the form; otherwise, a Census taker (enumerator) will knock on their door to get the form answered.

Federal funding to local municipalities is determined using Census figures, which is why the Census is so important. The Census will help each community get its fair share of government funds for highways, schools, bridges, senior centers, health facilities, and many other programs. It also affects the number of seats a state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Census information is also used for other purposes such as to advocate for causes, rescue disaster victims, prevent diseases, research markets, locate pools of skilled workers and more.

The Census is a requirement of the US Constitution, and is conducted every 10 years.