Some folks say they plan to skip this year’s census for reasons ranging from just plain old laziness to disregard for government. At the risk of sounding like a cheerleader for the tally, here’s a key reason why we should all stand up and be counted: the money – about $400 billion worth each year according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That money is used for things like job training centers, schools, senior centers, hospitals, emergency services, and infrastructure improvements like roads and bridges.

If you’re wondering how the census impacts the use of so much money, it’s quite simple. Federal dollars for services like education, transportation, healthcare and job training are distributed based on the population count. In addition, census data affect the number of seats a state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives, so the census can influence a state’s political clout.

If the money isn’t enough, then here’s one more reason: a variety of organizations including charities, outreach agencies and businesses use census data to research markets, advocate for causes, monitor public health trends, locate groups of skilled workers and much more. So when you get that census form, consider your community and fill it out.