$30 Million to Protect $186 Billion: The Case for Investing in Census Accuracy in New York State
Every year the federal government allocates money to states for Medicaid and Medicare, education, infrastructure, housing, and more. In many cases, the funding is set by formulas that rely, in part, on a population count. To determine how much each state gets, the federal government uses Census data. It is critically important that each state get an accurate count of the number of residents: when people are not counted accurately, federal programs that flow to states would not receive the funds they’re entitled to, and some New Yorkers will not get the federal dollars they deserve.
New York State received approximately $186 billion in federal funding across 371 census-guided programs in Fiscal Year 2023, according to a recent report from the Project on Government Oversight (POGO).
Federal funding is hardly the only reason it’s important to get an accurate count. Census data is critical to political representation, school planning, business decisions, and research on who lives and works in the state.
But the money at stake is one more reason it is important for the state to allocate funds needed to pave the way for a full and proper count in the 2030 census. The first step is the Local Update of Census Addresses, or LUCA, which is how the Census Bureau identifies the places people live. Once the registry of dwellings is set, that is what is used in 2030. If a dwelling is not on the list, the people who live there are not counted. LUCA gets underway in 2027 but planning and preparation takes place in 2026.
That’s why this year’s state budget should invest $30 million to do three things:
- Set up a New York State government census support office.
- Provide funding to county governments and community-based organizations, to support their field and door-to-door efforts during LUCA field operations.
- Establish a New York Counts Commission of experienced census experts.
This level of preparation will lay the groundwork for an accurate count in New York.
The 2030 Census is fast approaching, and it is critical that New Yorkers are prepared for the count, from rural communities to the largest city in the country.
Even small miscounts can cost New York money and misdirect funds, depending on the program and exactly who is miscounted. One challenge is that every state has significant populations of people who have been historically and persistently undercounted by the census, including people of color, young children, renters, and those in low-income households.
Getting the count right is fundamental to the state’s economy, political representation, and understanding of ourselves.
Where $186 Billion of Census-Guided Federal Funding Went in FY 20232
$131 Billion for Medicaid and Medicare
Providing millions of Americans with health insurance and assistance in paying for medical services, prescription drugs, surgeries, hospital stays and more.
$28 Billion for Health Spending (excluding Medicaid and Medicare)
Assisting households with medical costs, providing nutritional support, social services, community health centers, and more.
$7 Billion for Infrastructure
Allocating funds for roads, bridges, energy production, broadband, water treatment, and other community infrastructure projects.
$10 Billion for Education
Supporting primary education, special education, higher education, as well as training and education of community members on important issues.
$3 Billion for Economic Development
Providing loans for business expansions, small business assistance, employment services, and more, to improve the economic well-being of communities.
$10 Billion for Housing
Assisting homeowners and renters with housing costs, investing in public housing, and helping veterans, older Americans, people with disabilities, and others find affordable housing.