FAYETTEVILLE -- Gov. Bev Perdue wants the U.S. Census Bureau to change the way it counts deployed soldiers so the state won't lose up to $641.5 million over the next 10 years in federal funding.
Military personnel in the United States are counted as living in their barracks or off-base residence where they spend most of their time.
"How we count is where you are living on April 1," Commerce Department spokesman Nick Kimball said.
But deployed soldiers are counted by either their home state, their legal residence or the last base they were assigned to before deploying.
In a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Perdue asked that the third option be used.
Kimball said changes are unlikely for this year's count but could be considered for the 2020 census.
"Without having seen the letter, we couldn't comment on specifics," he said, adding that the 2010 census is already generally planned and under way.
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