April 1, 2000 may be April Fools' Day, but it also is a very important date for all Americans. April 1 is Census Day -- the day that we take a national snapshot of ourselves that will shape our lives for the next decade. From how we are represented in Congress to new schools and roads, to health care or housing needs, the 2000 Census will provide the information that we need to plan for our future.

The U.S. Constitution mandates a census every 10 years to determine our nation's population. The results of the census enable us to reapportion the 435 seats in the House of Representatives. Based on population shifts, some states will gain representation, while others will lose representation. This count also is used to determine state legislative districts.

Starting in mid March, every household will receive either a long or short form to be filled out on April 1. Most people will receive the short form, which consists of seven questions - name, sex, age, relationship, origin, race and housing tenure (whether the home is owned or rented) - and takes about 10 minutes to complete. About one-in-six households will receive the long form, which covers 34 subjects, including education, ancestry, and employment and will take about 40 minutes to complete.

Conducting a census every 10 years is an enormous effort. In Maryland, the census needs almost 4,000 workers to help with the effort. From enumerators earning $10 an hour, to crew leaders making $15.50 an hour, the census needs short-term, part-time workers to help with the count. Those interested in such employment should call the job opportunity hotline at 1-888-325-7733.

Census enumerators will take special care to reach difficult-to-count populations such as nursing home residents, hospitals patients, the homeless, college students and prisoners. Between late April and early July 2000, census workers will visit households that did not return census forms. On Dec. 31, 2000, apportionment counts will be delivered to the President. On April 1, 2001 all states receive redistricting counts.

Your answers will be strictly confidential. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share your answers with others, including welfare agencies; the INS; the IRS; the police or the military. Anyone who breaks the law can receive up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The federal government uses census data to allocate more than $185 billion in federal funds annually for thousands of community programs and services. Local governments use the data to help plan the allocation of services including schools, hospitals, libraries, highways, police and fire stations. Businesses use the information in ways that impact on job creation, including where to locate factories, shopping centers, movie theaters, banks and offices.

A good example of the importance of accurate census data came when Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida in 1992. The Census Bureau aided the rescue effort by providing estimates of the total number of people in each block. In one New England community, seniors successfully argued for a new senior center by using census data.

April 1, 2000 will be the day we take a national snapshot of ourselves. In Maryland, it's critical that everyone take the time to fill out the census form they receive so that our state will be adequately represented in Congress and receive its fair share of federal funds. We all benefit from an accurate census count because it will determine the allocation of resources into the next millennium.