Flawed census letters worry officials

O’FALLON, Ill., March 11 (UPI) -- Officials in a pair of Illinois cities said they are concerned about the accuracy of the U.S. Census after letters were sent with the wrong town names.

Leaders in the towns of O'Fallon and Shiloh said residents are receiving letters from the U.S. Census Bureau telling them to be prepared to receive surveys next week, but the letters are raising concerns because they bear the correct ZIP codes but the city name Belleville.

"We're very concerned because they made a giant error," O'Fallon Mayor Gary Graham said. "If they can't even get the town name right on these letters, how do we know that they're going to send our money to the right place? I'm very concerned that the federal government doesn't even know that the town of O'Fallon, Illinois is out there."

Muriel Jackson, spokeswoman at the U.S. Census Bureau's Chicago Regional Office, said officials are aware of the address mix-up but they have not yet determined the cause. She said residents should not be concerned about the accuracy of the count.

"We're aware that there is an issue and we are in the troubleshooting process," Jackson said. "Residents should just fill out their surveys and send them back in like they normally would. We're addressing the problem."