Due to COVID-19, the U.S. Census Bureau extended the deadline to respond to the 2020 Census from July 31st to October 31st, 2020. Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 20-13, extending Executive Order 18-12, which established the Missouri 2020 Complete Count Committee.

*Mayor Randy Pogue said Kearney had an 84% response rate in the 2010 census*

Originally, Executive Order 18-12 required the Missouri 2020 Complete Count Committee to complete its work and submit a final report by August 1st, 2020. Executive Order 20-13 extends the committee’s deadline to November 30th, 2020.

The Missouri 2020 Complete Count Committee’s purpose remains the same, to heighten participation and awareness for the 2020 Census and coordinate messaging and community outreach in hard-to-count areas of Missouri.

“Missouri’s Complete Count Committee’s mission remains a critical component in the effort to secure a fair and equitable 2020 Census,” said Governor Parson. “Extending the deadline for the committee’s work will help ensure accurate and reliable census data is collected for the state of Missouri and reinforce the importance of having every Missourian counted.”

In a March 18th Facebook post, Mayor Randy Pogue explained why participating in the 2020 census is important to Kearney.

“It’s important for everyone to participate as census data is used to disperse federal funding for schools, hospitals, roads and other programs; to determine our representation in the U.S. House of Representatives and state level government, and businesses use the data to determine where to locate new stores and offices,” he stated.

Mayor Pogue indicated that Kearney had an 84% response rate in the 2010 census.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story