The Census Bureau has hundreds of thousands of job openings

Processing census forms. Photo courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau, Public Information Office.

The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting temporary, part-time census takers for the 2010 Census. These short-term jobs offer good pay, flexible hours, paid training and mileage reimbursement. Census takers also are usually assigned to work in their own communities. Some full-time, temporary positions also are available.

Every 10 years, the Census Bureau takes a snapshot of the U.S. population, to determine how many people reside within the nation’s borders, who they are, and where they live.

The results help determine your representation in government, as well as how federal funds are spent in your community on things like roads, parks, housing, schools and public safety.

As a census taker, you play a vital role in making sure that everyone is counted.

Census takers are hired to follow-up, face-to-face, when census forms are not returned or incomplete and/or to conduct brief interviews.

Hourly pay can range from $10 to $20. Be prepared to work hard for those dollars. There are daily and weekly quotas, and you may be required to work between 20 to 40 hours a week, mainly nights and weekends because that’s usually when people are at home.

The length of your assignment will depend on how much work there is to be done in your area.

Competition for these jobs is tough, considering the current economy. To qualify, you must:

• Be able to read, write, and speak English. (And being bilingual can help your chances of landing the job.)

• Be a U.S. citizen, or a legal permanent resident, or non-citizen with an appropriate work visa, and you possess a bilingual skill for which there are no available qualified U.S. citizens.

• Be at least 18 years old.

• Have a valid social security number.

• Take a written test of basic skills (including map reading)

• Have a valid driver’s license.

• Pass a background check.

• Commit to four full days of (paid) training (generally during the week from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

For this phase of the census, there’s a multiple-choice test for reading, clerical, number and organizational skills. You can take a practice test on the Census Bureau website.

Application forms are available online at the Census Bureau website, http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/ which are brought to the testing site. Mailed applications are not accepted. Use the Web site’s interactive map to find the local phone number of the nearest Local Census Office and find out when and where testing will be held.

For more information, call 1-866-861-2010.

Posted Dec. 1, 2009

Editor’s note: I worked for the Census Bureau in April and May of 2008, updating their maps. I recently received a call to ask if I would like to work for them again. I believe that testing begins soon, but that actual work will not begin until April or May 2010.

State cuts will force Mansfield to pinch pennies

Town Manager Matt Hart and Mansfield Mayor Betsy Paterson. File photo.

A recent cut in state funding has resulted in a loss of approximately $270,847 for Mansfield, Town Manager Matthew Hart told town council members at their last meeting.

According to Hart, the town’s funding has been reduced by 58 percent from $466,221 to $195,374.

“The revised fiscal year 2009-2010 Pequot­Mohegan grant can be attributed, in part, to a decrease in gaming revenues,” Hart writes in a memo to the Town Council.

Mansfield Finance Director Cherie Trahan said the town only learned of the funding cut on Nov. 18.

Currently, town staff are working on a recommendation to address the loss said Hart. It will first be presented to the council’s finance subcommittee for review.

Earmarked for capital projects

Trahan said the anticipated revenue of $ 466,221 was included in the recent budget and this funding is typically used for capital projects, but now, “We’re going to have to revisit the approved capital projects… We’ll definitely cut some capital projects,” she said Monday.

Capital projects include the council’s media project – which would cost $25,000 – to purchase equipment to broadcast council sessions live; road renovation projects; and several, one-time equipment purchases. Some may need to be delayed, Trahan said.

More cuts possible

Trahan added that there also has been talk at the state level to reduce Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) funding to towns by 10 percent.

PILOT funds are state payments to towns that have state-owned property that cannot be taxed. Mansfield has several such properties including the University of Connecticut and the Bergin Correctional Institution located on Route 44.

Trahan said the current reduction in funding – combined with the potential reduction in PILOT funds – will mean town officials will need to work harder to complete a budget next year. The two cuts could result in a $1 million loss of revenue.

“That’s huge,” she said.

However, Trahan said town officials are still waiting for confirmed figures from the state.

“We’re hoping (Gov. M. Jodi Rell) will re­think this a little bit,” she said.

Posted Dec. 1, 2009