A L A B A M A S TAT E D ATA C E N T E R

Updates from the SDC Meeting in Washington, DC

Annette WattersAlabama State Data Center

November 10, 2011

A L A B A M A S TAT E D ATA C E N T E R

Current themes at the Census Bureau

Higher costs

More demand

New technologies for home and business uses

New data resources. Lots of people repackaging and redistributing federal statistical data (not necessarily very skillfully or wisely).

No new money.

All that means that the Census Bureau’s current practices are unsustainable.

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A L A B A M A S TAT E D ATA C E N T E R

Congress is proposing big budget cuts to the Census Bureau

The House recommends a 21% cut

The Senate gives the Bureau a little more

The current Continuing Resolution runs through Nov. 18.

As of today, it’s too early to know what Congress will finally do.

Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce , The University of Alabama 3

A L A B A M A S TAT E D ATA C E N T E R

Census Bureau cutbacks and eliminations are coming

All changes have to work toward the goal of a good 2020 census.

The Census Bureau—not some other person or group—intends to make the decisions about what to cut

The people who are the bosses of the Census Bureau want to see the Bureau doing things better and more cheaply

Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce , The University of Alabama 4

A L A B A M A S TAT E D ATA C E N T E R

Under the House of Representatives budget:

Cancel the 2012 Economic Census

Possibly delay or cancel the Count Question Resolution Program

Delay or cancel some unique 2010 Census data products

Delay estimates of Census 2010 undercount/ overcount

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A L A B A M A S TAT E D ATA C E N T E R

Senate budget version:

Census Bureau would conduct the Economic Census, but would eliminate the Survey of Business Owners 

Cut Group Quarters from the American Community Survey

Affect final 2010 Census activities and products, as in House version

“Adversely impact” nearly 300 Census Bureau jobs

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A L A B A M A S TAT E D ATA C E N T E R

Under either funding level

Cut back or eliminate three current initiatives:

Statistics on state and local government pensions, which inform GDP calculations

Updates to the nation’s poverty measure (through the CPS Supplemental Survey)

Research on using administrative records to replace or supplement field data collection.

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A L A B A M A S TAT E D ATA C E N T E R

Other ways to save money

Reorganize departments and divisions

Use standard equipment rather than custom-made devices

Suggestions from employees

New products will be mostly electronic

Redesign the Census Bureau website

Reorganize Partnership activities

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A L A B A M A S TAT E D ATA C E N T E R

The Bureau is looking for ACS stories

They want real people on videotape who say

1. I had a problem.

2. I used the ACS to help my decision.

3. The information helped me.

4. The world is a better place now because of the ACS information.

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/. Click on “ACS in Action.”

Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce , The University of Alabama 9

A L A B A M A S TAT E D ATA C E N T E R

Count Question Resolution (CQR)

Go to www.census.gov

Click on “2010 census.”

Click on “About,” at the top.

Click on “Count Question Resolution” on the left side.

Click on “2010 Census Notes and Errata.”

Scroll down to about page 3

Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, The University of Alabama 10