(MURFREESBORO)  Have you been counted? Participating in the 2020 Census enables Murfreesboro and Rutherford County to get our share of tax revenue. By not completing the census, Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland noted that you're setting yourself up for increased property taxes and for those who rent--higher rent!

Mayor McFarland explained why it is so important to compete the 2020 Census . . .

When asked what he thought the 2020 Census would show Murfreesboro's population to be,  the mayor noted . . .

As of now, in the nation--over 63.5 per cent of households have responded to the 2020 Census. Here in Rutherford County, we're slightly higher--66.8 per cent. By the way, Tennessee's completion rate is 62.8 per cent.

People can still respond online, over the phone or by mail — all without having to meet a census taker.

As the U.S. Census Bureau continues to monitor the impacts COVID-19 has on 2020 Census operations, changes to operations are being deployed to ensure the safety of staff and the public while maximizing the number of households that respond on their own to the 2020 Census.

“We are taking steps and adapting our operations to make sure everyone is counted, while keeping everyone safe,” said Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham. “Our commitment to a complete and accurate 2020 Census is absolute. In this challenging environment, we are deploying these tactics to make sure we reach every household in every community. If you haven't responded, the time to respond is now! Responding to the 2020 Census online, on paper, by phone, or in person with a census taker, helps secure vital resources for your community."

The Census Bureau will follow up with some nonresponding households by phone.

Census takers will continue to follow up with nonresponding households in person, and will follow CDC and local public health guidelines when they visit.

If no one is home when the census taker visits, the census taker will leave a “Notice of Visit” with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail, to encourage response. During Census Bureau tests, the “Notice of Visit” proved successful in encouraging people to respond on their own to the census.

The Census Bureau will mail an additional paper questionnaire to nonresponding households.

To encourage more households to respond on their own to the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau is contacting nonresponding households by mailing an additional paper questionnaire to some households that have yet to respond.

The Census Bureau is sending a seventh mailing, including a paper questionnaire, in late August to early September to the lowest-responding census tracts.

Mayor Asks For Public To Respond Now.

Again, Murfreesboro Mayor McFarland urges citizens to complete their 2020 Cenus.