A U.S. Census Bureau representative from Philadelphia has been urging local officials to encourage their constituents to cooperate when the nation counts its residents in the spring.

The census helps determine how the federal government distributes $675 billion to states, municipalities and school districts, which, when broken down, means that every individual not counted in Pennsylvania will result in a cumulative loss of $20,000 over 10 years, according to Richard Buck, who spoke recently to Tyrone Borough Council and the Logan Township supervisors.

That means that if a family of five isn’t counted for the 2020 census, it would create a $100,000 loss, Buck said.

“You are the trusted voices,” Buck told the Logan supervisors. “You will have the biggest impact.”

Locally, the money affected by the census count includes liquid fuels funding, reimbursement for firefighting and police services and Community Development Block Grants, Buck said.

Then there’s the state’s representation in the U.S. House.

Pennsylvania lost two seats after the 2000 census and one after the 2010 census and doesn’t want to go below the current level of 18 House members, Buck said.

Worries about the security of information residents will provide are unnecessary, Buck said. Specific answers won’t be shared — not with immigration officials, social service employees, landlords, law enforcement or anyone else.

That means, for example, that people living where their presence is a lease violation don’t need to fret about the census exposing them, he said.

Penalties for illegal sharing are five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, Buck said.

The census will gather information in waves — online and by phone at first, by mail next, then in person, Buck said.

On or about March 12, all households will receive an invitation to participate online or by phone, he said.

Two weeks later, those who don’t respond will receive a paper questionnaire by mail.

Two weeks after that, in mid-April, those who still haven’t responded will receive a visit from a census taker, he said.

About 60 percent of households are expected to respond online or by phone, Buck said.

The bureau is looking for workers, Buck said. The pay is $13.50 an hour. Those interested can apply on the census website.

Most of those hired will be visiting households that didn’t respond, he said.

Supervisors Chairman Jim Patterson spoke of the difficulty of counting homeless people, some of whom live in cars — including many teens who’ve been thrown out of their homes.

The census is hoping that a nationwide count of homeless that takes place in February will minimize that problem, Buck said.

“We do the best we can,” Buck said.