The U.S. Census Bureau says most of the head-counting is done.

Now, Pikes Peak-area goverments hope to start counting the tax dollars that will flow our way thanks to the above-average response of folks in El Paso County and Colorado Springs.

About 74 percent of all households in the county responded to 2010 Census forms, exceeding the national average of 72 percent. Officials say that will translate into more federal tax dollars finding their way back to the region.

El Paso County Commissioner Sallie Clark said each person counted is worth $900, roughly, in tax revenue.

The Census — conducted every 10 years since 1790 – helps federal lawmakers determine how to distribute $400 billion in federal funding each year. (Whether or not is SHOULD spend all that money is another matter.)

 I’ll simply note the funding pays for things like:

• Hospitals
• Schools
• Senior centers
• Roads, bridges and other public-works projects
• Emergency services

Then there’s the issue of representation in Congress. Seats in the U.S. House follow population. That’s another big reason it’s important to get a full and accurate count. Ditto the Colorado General Assembly. You don’t get your fair share of state representatives if you don’t stand up and be counted.

Some of the preliminary numbers are fascinating. You can slice and dice them by logging on to the Census Bureau’s American FactFinder  and searching by a variety of ways.

Here’s  a column I wrote in April 2009 and a previous blog I wrote about it.

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