It's time for the Census, which is good news for anyone looking for a part-time job. According to the Virginian Pilot, the 2010 Census will bring 4,000 part-time jobs to the Hampton Roads area.

This could be a great boost to the local economy, and good for any homeowners in the area looking for work.

"Taxpayers will spend $14 billion to survey themselves for the 2010 Census.

If that sounds like a bone head idea in tight times, blame the Founding Fathers. The Constitution requires a head count every 10 years to make sure political power is properly distributed. Revenue and representation are based on census data.

The gear-up for 2010 started several years ago at the U.S. Census Bureau. Forms won't be mailed out until March, but a $340 million publicity push began Monday with a cross-country promotional tour launched from New York's Times Square. Census offices are opening this week in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach - part of a 500-office network that will handle the 1.2 million workers needed to conduct the count.

Locally, about 4,000 people will be hired for temporary, part-time work this spring. Jobs will last two to seven weeks. Pay starts at $13 an hour.

Technically, the new hires will be known as enumerators, but census takers will do. Their work begins after April 1, the deadline for returning the 10-question form; responses cannot be filed online. Census takers knock on doors to prod those people who didn't comply.

By the way, the census is mandatory on both ends. Just as the government is required to conduct it, every resident is required to respond. Those who don't can be fined up to $100. Those who knowingly give false answers can be fined up to $500."

Read the full story.