September 10, 2020 – With the deadline to complete the census being less than three weeks away, state officials are making another push to remind Illinoisans to respond. Governor Pritzker said that a one percent undercount could result in the state losing over $195 million in federal funds. Illinois is one of 10 states that end up paying more in federal taxes than it receives in federal funds.
Grace Ho, the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services, said that every person makes a difference. “Responses impact how federal funding will be distributed in your schools, community services that affect you like school safety, mental health services and programs,” Ho said.
Illinois currently ranks first among states with a population of over 10 million in total enumeration at 92%, which is the percentage of households counted in the census.
