WASHINGTON, March 8 (UPI) -- An estimated 120 million U.S. households will receive a notice this week that their 2010 census forms are about to arrive, census officials said.
A letter mailed Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau says the census forms will be arriving March 15-17.
"It's an important reminder about the impact the census has on our communities," Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said in a release.
Advance notices boost mail-back rates, which saves taxpayers' money, Grove said.
For every 1 percent increase in households that respond by mail, about $85 million in operational costs is saved because census-takers don't have to go door-to-door to do follow up, he said.
The advance letter, which includes messages in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Russian, explains the 2010 Census will determine how government funds are divided among communities for highways, schools, health facilities and other programs.
