[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52774-52775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25801]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

1997 Census of Governments

ACTION: Proposed Agency Information Collection Activity; Comment 
Request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 9, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Henry Wulf or Donna Hirsch, U.S. Bureau of the 
Census, Governments Division, Washington, DC 20233-6800, 800-242-2184 
(telephone), [email protected] or [email protected] (Internet e-mail 
address).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This census provides government organization, employment and 
finance data for state and local governments. The data are used to 
calculate the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), to monitor the government 
sector of the economy, and to formulate, develop, and review public 
policy.
    The organization phase provides statistics on the number of local 
governments by type and by selected characteristics. The employment 
phase collects data on employment and payrolls of state and local 
governments. In the finance phase, the information relates to several 
aspects of state and local government public finance: revenues, 
including related property tax bases; expenditures by function and 
character; indebtedness and debt transactions; and cash and security 
holdings.
    The 1997 Census of Governments excludes two portions of information 
collected in the 1992 quinquennial census; There will not be a taxable 
property value phase and the organization phase will exclude data 
relating to elected officials. In addition, there are two significant 
methodological changes; The reference date for the Employment phase 
will be March 12, 1997 instead of October 12, 1997 and all organization 
phase mail data will be obtained on joint employment/organization forms 
(EGO-forms).

II. Method of Collection

    Canvass methodology consists of a mail out/mail back questionnaire. 
Responses will be screened manually, then put into an electronic 
format. Other methods used to collect data and maximize response 
include central data collection, electronic reporting, solicitation of 
printed reports in lieu of a completed questionnaire, and use of the 
Census Bureau's Federal Single Audit Clearinghouse. The organization 
phase includes, in addition, extensive legal research to determine the 
existence and organizational ties of governmental entities.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not available.
    Form Number: F-1, F-5, F-5A, F-11, F-12, F-13, F-21, F-22, F-25, F-
28, F-29, F-32, F-42, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-6, E-7, E-9, EGO-3, EGO-4, EGO-
6, EGO-7.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: State, local or tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 134,119.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1.27.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 170,017.
    Estimated Total Cost: The estimated cost to respondents for all 
phases of the Census of Governments is $2,261,226. The estimated cost 
to the Federal government is contained in the budgetary plans of the 
1997 Census of Governments. In total, these amounts are projected to be 
about $13.4 million.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 USC, Section 161.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including

[[Page 52775]]

whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of 
the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: October 2, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-25801 Filed 10-7-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P