Census Funding Could Impact Arizona�s Undercount

Census Funding Could Impact Arizona�s Undercount

The 2020 Census �significantly undercounted� Latinos and Native Americans in Arizona, a recent op-ed in the Arizona Republic noted, �and underfunding could ensure it happens again.�

Ed Kissam, a member of the Census Quality Reinforcement Task Force, wrote that, �The Census Bureau estimates there was a 4.99% undercount of Hispanics and a 5.64%undercount of American Indians on tribal lands in 2020. With a population that is 30.7% Hispanic and 6.3% American Indian, the stakes are high for Arizona.�

While disputes over �priorities and funding levels are routine and understandable,� the op-ed worried that, �the proposed federal budget cuts would subvert progress toward more equitable and cost-effective health care, and that is amazingly irresponsible. All Americans will benefit from responsibly allocating adequate funding to assure top-quality Census Bureau data are available to policymakers, funders, planners and health care providers.�

• “An inaccurate census may already be costing Arizona billions, and it could get worse.” By Ed Kissam. Arizona Republic. September 7, 2023.