County administrator issues Census challenge

Madison County’s Administrator has entered a friendly bet for a meal “with all the trimmings” with the DeSoto County’s Administrator to see who can get a better response rate to the 2020 census.

Madison County Spokesman Heath Hall said that DeSoto and Madison counties are statistically tied at a 70 percent self-response rate for the 2020 Census. Based on those numbers, one of the counties could rank number one in Mississippi for having the highest percentage counted.

This has initiated a friendly contest between Madison County Administrator Shelton Vance and his DeSoto County counterpart, Vanessa Lynchard. The winner of the contest will personally treat their colleague to a meal with all of the trimmings.

“This is another opportunity for Madison County to shine,” Vance said. “While we all think very highly of our friends in DeSoto County, this is a contest where the trophy needs to go into our case.”

Hall said that an accurate count in the Census is important because it can impact the number of representatives the state has in the United States Congress as well as decisions to allot millions of dollars in general and emergency federal funds though the benefits do not stop there.

According to Census numbers Hall pulled as recently as August 7, both counties have already handily surpassed the national self-response rate, 63.1 percent, and Mississippi’s self-response rat, 57.9 percent.

Last week, the deadline to complete the Census was moved up to September 30, 2020.

“It is easy to be counted,” Hall said. 

To participate visit www.2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020.