With 2010 census packages due to be delivered to every household in the nation starting mid-month, concern is mounting that Placer and surrounding counties may lose out in the count.

A projected $38 billion in federal funding is tied to census totals in the six-county area surrounding Roseville over the next decade.

But if the count is lower than the actual total number of residents, Roseville and the Sacramento region could end up with less than its share.

“The main thing is the city gets a lot of its funding based in part on census data,” said Karen Garner, economic development analyst with the City of Roseville. “We want to make sure the population is accurate. If they’re sending a set number of dollars per person, of course we want to make sure everyone is counted. It adds up to millions a year.”

Garner said the city receives $1.9 million in gas tax funds each year for roadway maintenance based on its population count. Funding for law enforcement salaries, first-time homebuyer programs and community development grants are also tied to data collected in the census.

“Every dollar is important these days,” she said.

Garner said Roseville generally has an accurate count. Census workers have met with the Placer Consortium on Homelessness to ensure the homeless population also receives census forms, she said.

One population that could be undercounted is residents who speak English as a second language or who don’t speak English at all. Garner said the city has four questionnaire assistance centers to help residents who need census forms in other languages. The sites are staffed by census workers, who can also answer general questions about the form.

With millions of dollars at stake, many in government are spreading the word about filling out the census form on Census Day, April 1.

Auburn City Councilman Kevin Hanley is working with the Sacramento Area Council of Governments to inform residents.

He said the Auburn area has historically had good turn-in rates on census questionnaires. But, overall, there are problems — with Sacramento County one of the 10 hardest-to-count places in the country.

The Kings Beach-Tahoe Vista area at Lake Tahoe and Sheridan, located in the northwest portion of the county, were identified as Placer’s hardest-to-count areas in the last census.

If just 1 percent of people in the six-county region aren’t counted, the council of governments estimates the area will lose $380 million in funding during the next decade. That’s $17,000 for every man, woman or child not counted over 10 years. The council takes in Sutter, Yuba, Placer, El Dorado, Yolo and Sacramento counties.

Also important is getting a correct count to reflect growth in the area over the past 10 years that will be used to realign congressional and other districts for the next decade, Hanley said.

The census questionnaire comes in a postage-paid return envelope. There are 10 questions to answer and the form is intended to be filled out in 10 minutes or less.

“The key message we’re trying to get out and what’s different about this year is everybody gets 10 questions. That’s it, no long or short form,” Garner said. “And every household — not just people who own their residence — renters owners, whomever, even people living in a group situation, every household needs to be counted.”

Households that don’t return the form will be visited in-person by census takers. By law, the Census Bureau can’t share respondents’ answers with state, local or federal agencies, including the FBI, IRS or immigration.

Michelle Carl contributed to this report.

Gus Thomson can be reached at gust@goldcountrymedia.com.