Pennsylvania's budget for the upcoming fiscal year won't include any state funds to help ensure a complete count in the 2020 Census next year, despite a recommendation from a state-appointed panel that about $1 per person — more than $12 million — should be allocated.
An undercount would impact billions the state receives in federal funds for dozens of programs.
The once-every-10-years count affects funding for a host of federal programs, such as Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (known as CHIP), foster care and adoption assistance, housing vouchers, education funds, Head Start, transportation project funding and more.
“We're probably going to lose out ... that means the state is going to have to find the money,” said Micah Sims, who headed the 45-member Complete Count Commission appointed by Gov. Tom Wolf.
The panel recommended the funding for outreach.
Research estimates that in 2015, Pennsylvania lost $1,746 for every uncounted person in the 2010 Census, when examining the impact on five health and human services related programs, according to an analysis by George Washington University.
“The more accurate a state’s census count, the more equitable is its share of federal funds,” researchers wrote.
In 2016, Pennsylvania received more than $39 billion through 55 federal programs “guided by data derived from the 2010 Census,” according to the researchers.
“I really don't think this is a partisan issue,” said Kari King, president and CEO of advocacy group Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, which supported putting state funds toward Census efforts. An undercount could mean programs such as Medicaid and CHIP, which serve children, would take a big financial hit because population is part of the formula the federal government uses when giving funding for the programs to states.
Ms. King said she encountered a lack of awareness as to “the true impact that this will have for Pennsylvania's state budget moving forward.”
For the 2000 count, the state had allocated $300,000 to the state's Department of Community and Economic Development to aid in the effort. In 2010, there weren’t funds specifically allocated, but there were efforts to support the Census by various state agencies, according to a DCED spokeswoman.
A number of other states — among them California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Virginia and Washington — have allocated funds to make sure all residents are counted, according to information compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Spokespeople for Republican legislative leaders said they didn't see the issue as the state's.
“The census is a federal government initiative and funded by the federal government. At a budget hearing, DCED said that in previous census years they had one employee assigned to census related issues. So there was not support among members to change what worked in previous census years,” said Mike Straub, a spokesman for House Republicans, in a statement.
“We have always said this was a federal issue,” said Jennifer Kocher, a spokeswoman for Senate Republicans.
Mr. Sims said advocates are still hoping to find some resources for when forms start going out next year.
“We're in conversations right now with the governor's office,” he said.
“Unfortunately, I think this was just a missed opportunity in the state budget,” said Ms. King.
Mr. Wolf has signed the approximately $34 billion general fund state budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.
Kate Giammarise: kgiammarise@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3909.
First Published: July 1, 2019, 9:16 p.m.
Updated: July 1, 2019, 9:23 p.m.