BURTON — City officials want to make sure residents fill out and return the upcoming 2020 Census to avoid any shortfalls in the count.

During the last Census in 2010, the city fell short by one person of falling into the next highest bracket to determine the distribution of federal funds. So this year, council members are hoping to get as many people to respond to the Census.

“We were one person short in 2010. This is why it’s important,” said Councilman Vaughn Smith. “People should know this information is not shared with anyone but the Census. It’s not shared with the police, or the FBI, no one who can use it against you. This is how it is, by law.”

Smith said he wants to see more people more willing to respond when Census takers come to their doors in the months ahead. He said while this Census is expected to be done differently because of technology, it will start with a mailing first and historically the Census Bureau expects about 80 percent of people to respond to that.

Those who don’t respond will likely get a phone call from a Census worker, followed by a volunteer going door-to-door.

To see more about how the information collected is used, Smith said anyone can look it up at www.census.gov/roam.

“It will give you anything you want to know about Burton,” said Smith. “It impacts the funding your city will receive over the next 10 years. That’s millions of dollars for roads, sewers and schools. It will help greatly enhance our city.”

He said anyone who has friends or family hesitant to share their information should encourage them to do so. Smith wants residents to know it will help them and their children by proving the government with the most reliable and complete information.

“Anything a businessman wants to know before placing a business in city of Burton,” said Smith. The public, he said, needs to know the city needs their help on this.

Historically, he said, the city’s south-side has been the most difficult to get involved in the Census. For those in south end, Smith urges those residents to make a greater effort to participate.

“We need your help on the south end,” he said. “That’s where the big hole is – almost 48 percent did not respond last time. If we miss somebody that’s going to have an impact us for the next 10 years – we want to count every single person.”

City Council President Steven Heffner said just as important as returning the Census is finding people to work for the Census. He said the government will be paying $15-25 per hour for workers. Anyone interested should go to www.census.gov/jobs fill out online application.