For the first time in history families can fill out the census online or over the telephone.
The census, which determines the allocation of billions of dollars and multiple congressional seats for the state, could take as little as 10 minutes to be filled out.
Around $675 billion federal dollars will be divided among the 50 states and five territories according to census results. The money is divided based on numbers rather than need and goes toward funding local schools, emergency services and highways.
In an interview with WFTS Tampa Bay, Tim Olson, Associate Director for Field Operations with the U.S. Census Bureau, said that filling out the census is an investment in your community.
"If you're missed, you're literally robbing your community of necessary funds for kids, for seniors, for everybody who uses the road system," Olson said.
While the option to fill out the census online or over the phone is available, packets will still be mailed to every household across the nation. Packets will begin arriving in South Florida homes by March 12.
