Local News

Businesses asked to complete census

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Gary Pinnell | Highlands Today
Published: January 19, 2013

SEBRING Got an Economic Census? Don't toss it. There's a $5,000 fine for scofflaws who fail to reply, as well as a $10,000 penalty for false answers.

"Wow," said Eileen May, president of the Greater Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce. "I've been here 10 years. We've never, never gotten anything from the Census Bureau."

It's not a stealth census, a Census Bureau spokesman said Wednesday. The Economic Census is conducted every five years, and dates back to 1810.

Even so, a Rasmussen Reports poll showed only 13 percent of Americans realized it's illegal not to fill out their 2010 Census population forms; 57 percent were just as certain it wasn't against the law.

Here's what Census.gov says: "Whoever, being over eighteen years of age, refuses or willfully neglects… to answer … shall be fined not more than $100.

Apparently, the Census Bureau doesn't make those penalties widely known, and a spokesman wouldn't say how often fines are levied.

Forms went out to 4 million businesses, which the Census Bureau said not every business in America. "We get information from other sources," he said.

When raw information is tabulated, statistics are available for 18 of 20 industry sectors

The U.S. Census Bureau also conducts the Census of Governments, and releases statistics for all incorporated and unincorporated cities and towns in the U.S. with 2,500 or more inhabitants or jobs.

Information includes the number of locations, employment, payroll, total revenue, and product sales for every industry – plus over 150 detailed statistics for various industries

"They haven't reached out to us at all," said Steve Nyhan, CEO of the Sebring chamber. "I'm going to check now to make sure the chamber hasn't gotten one, because it is a business too."

Feb. 12, the Economic Census deadline, is inconvenient for businesses, said incoming chair Rob Reed.

"We haven't closed our books by then," Reed said. "But I'll be curious to see what it says. I haven't seen one, and I haven't heard of anyone who has gotten one. I've filled out Department of Labor questionnaires for the country club and the real estate office. They can be voluminous a bunch of stuff. I'm amazed at what they ask."

gpinnell@highlandstoday.com (863) 386-5828