Annette Watters Alabama State Data Center November 10, 2011

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. Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 2

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

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

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 Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 5

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 Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 6

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. Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 7

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 Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 8

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. Click on “ACS in Action.” Alabama State Data Center, Culverhouse College of Commerce, The University of Alabama 9

Count Question Resolution (CQR) Go to 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