Reed: City needs more money for census outreach

By Eric Stirgus

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said Tuesday the city needs a major infusion of cash for its U.S. Census outreach efforts.

The mayor told the City Council's Community Development/Human Resources committee he wants $100,000 for the outreach. The Census Bureau gave the city about $3,500, city officials said.

Reed said he's considering raising the money from the private sector, working with the council to identify funds or using money left over from his inauguration to help pay for the outreach.

City officials say it is critical to have an accurate account of Atlanta residents. Census data is used to help determine how much money local governments receive for various initiatives.