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Census questionnaires are in the mail
Quick reply can save cost of personal interview

by Jeb Bing

Pleasanton households are starting to receive questionnaires for the 2010 census.

Residents are urged to mail the forms back as soon as possible to prevent census takers from having to go door-to-door, which will save millions of taxpayer dollars nationally, according to census officials.

The government pays 44 cents for a postage page envelope when a household mails back the 10-question census form, but it costs the Census Bureau $57 to send a census taker door-to-door to follow up with each household that doesn't respond, census officials said.

The census takes place April 1. Census data determines boundaries for state and local legislative and congressional districts.

For more information, visit www.2010census.gov.