Next month, millions of households across the United States will receive a U.S. Census questionnaire in the mail.

This simple 10-question survey not only gives the federal government an updated view of the country’s population and its demographics, but it also helps cities such as Thousand Oaks get federal funding.

It’s important for citizens to complete the form and mail it back.

For most, the census will take less than two minutes to fill out and put in the mail. Questions on the survey include name, sex, age, race, household relationship and whether you own or rent your home.

Performed every 10 years, the census determines how many representatives each state should have in Congress.

The federal funding that communities receive is based on census data. Money is then disbursed to build schools, senior citizen centers, roadways and other public projects.

The data also are used by government entities to recognize groups in certain regions that might be more vulnerable during a natural disaster or in areas that have seen significant population growth and need more money for roadways and public transportation.

Companies looking for skilled workers, health organizations identifying areas that might be susceptible to outbreaks of disease and environmentalists use the data to recognize potentially harmful trends regarding urbanization.

The census doesn’t ask about the legal status of respondents or for Social Security numbers.

Because the census requires an accurate count, workers will visit homes that didn’t complete the questionnaire to ensure addresses are up-to-date and to ask questions face to face.

It’s important to know that all census workers carry official government badges marked with just their name. It’s okay to ask for a picture ID from another source to confirm their identity.

Some census workers might also carry a “U. S. Census Worker” bag to help identify them.

If further proof of a census worker’s authenticity is needed, residents are encouraged to call the Census Bureau’s regional office in Los Angeles at (818) 267-1700, or (818) 904-6249 for those who are deaf.

As President Dwight Eisenhower said of the 1960 census, “The prompt, complete and accurate answering should be regarded as one of the requirements of good citizenship.”

Here’s to being a good citizen.