The Dallas County Commission discussed the importance of the upcoming 2020 Census at Monday evening’s regularly scheduled commission meeting.

At the state Association of County Commissioners Conference attended by Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn and several Dallas County Commissioners and Department heads last week, the approaching Census was the subject of one of the presentations the Dallas County representatives sat through.

“It is very important we increase our Census numbers here in the Black Belt,” said Nunn. “It’s very important. We stand to lose a lot. We really do. They’re saying we can’t have the same numbers as last time, if we do we’re going to lose. We’re going to lose congressional seats. We’re going to lose funding, grant money, benefits all of that is going to be lost here in the Black Belt and Dallas County.”

Dallas County Commissioner Valerie Reubin agreed with Nunn, stressing the importance of the upcoming Census.

“We stand to lose a lot of money if we don’t get these people counted,” she said. “In Dallas County, we need all the money we can get. We’re going to have to get on it because 2020 will be here before you know it.”

“I’ve heard that a lot of people are afraid of losing food stamps or that, if they have a criminal record, it’ll be found out where they live, things of that nature,” said Nunn. “That fear is out there and we’ve got to overcome that.”

“And it doesn’t have anything to do with that,” said Dallas County Commissioner Roy Moore. “All they want to do is count you. They aren’t going to put a warrant out on you.”

Both Nunn and Reubin encouraged those in the community to work as Census takers. According to Reubin, Census takers make $14 an hour.

Nunn said that those interested can apply online at 2020census.gov/jobs.