Ten minutes, 10 questions. It shouldn’t be too much to ask of American citizens to do their civic duty and take 10 minutes to answer 10 questions every 10 years.

That’s what the U.S. Census is all about, asking 10 important questions to determine who lives where.

And the end result means correctly allocating representation in the U.S. House of Representatives. It means a fairer disbursal of billions of dollars in federal funds for schools and infrastructure, like roads.

All of it is determined by population counts and if it’s not right or it’s too low, it costs communities across the country far too much.

We have seen firsthand what a low count can do to a community. It hinders growth in the retail and service sector. That chain restaurant decides to go elsewhere when the population count doesn’t meet its standard. That national retailer finds another town where the population exceeds the county it needs.

Those are real problems for communities who desperately want to enhance their quality of life offerings or for governments needing extra tax dollars in the coffers to provide more services for their citizens.

There is much more on the line than 10 minutes, and every citizen ought to take the time to be counted. It is not just an exercise, it is a responsibility all should take seriously and follow through by answering the questions and mailing it to the Census Bureau.

The slogan is apropos: “We can’t move forward until you mail it back.”

Ten minutes is all it takes, but the benefits can last well into the future.