The U.S. Census Bureau is hiring up to 20,000 staff employees at three San Diego County branch offices in Chula Vista, Escondido and El Cajon, this month to augment its downtown headquarters at 1370 India St. Temporary positions ranging from clerk-level to supervisor positions pay from $12.50 to $18.50 an hour. Some staff will also personally count residents starting in April depending on households returning the census survey or not returning them, said Robert Borboa, spokesman for the bureau. “If you don’t want anyone to come to your home, please fill out the questionnaire and return it,” he said. Residents should expect a letter in late February announcing the beginning of the count, which takes place every 10 years. Citizens can expect a 10-question form about a week later. The government asks residents to fill it out promptly and return it. The survey asks for the number of people living at a residence and tracks information such as Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates. The form asks for type of residence, names, birthdays, telephone numbers and race. It does not include questions relating to citizenship. The government uses the information to track population growth. Government officials also use the information while redrawing congressional districts, Borboa. Approximately $400 billion a year is handed out through Congress to communities to augment social services, infrastructure and schools, Borboa said. “(So) if we undercount by 1,000, that translates to a million (dollars) that that community has lost over the 10 years,” Borboa said. Since 1790, the count has taken place every 10 years as required by the U.S. Constitution. In between those counts, the government also sends out additional surveys every third and seventh year for a demographic “portrait” of the country, which is what residents may remember filling out in recent years, Borboa said. Under federal law, the U.S. Census Bureau cannot share the information with other government agencies. For more information about the U.S. Census, visit www.2010.census.gov.