[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 230 (Friday, November 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72446-72447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28216]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Quarterly 
Survey of State and Local Tax Revenues

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION:  Notice.

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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: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before January 27, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Christopher Pece, Chief, Public Finance Analysis 
Branch-B, Governments Division, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill 
Road, Washington, DC 20233 (301-763-7330).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to request an extension of the Quarterly 
Survey of State and Local Tax Revenue. The Census Bureau needs state 
and local tax data to publish benchmark statistics on public sector 
taxes, to provide data to the Bureau of Economic Analysis for GDP 
calculations and other economic indicators, and to provide data for 
economic research and comparative studies of governmental finances. 
Data are collected on a quarterly basis from state and local government 
tax collecting agencies.
    Tax collection data are used to measure economic activity for the 
Nation as a whole, as well as for comparison among the various states. 
These data also are useful in comparing the mix of taxes employed by 
individual states, and in determining the revenue raising capacity of 
different types of taxes.
    The survey collects data using three forms:
    The Quarterly Survey of Property Tax Collections (Form F-71) is 
sent to 5,379 local government tax collecting agencies in 592 county 
areas. While some counties are served by a single county-level tax 
collection agency, others have county, city, township, and even school 
district collectors. Each agency is asked to report the total property 
tax collections during the past quarter. In addition to the current 
sample, Census is implementing a new sample which will increase the 
overall collection size to 6,946 local government tax collecting 
agencies in 609 county areas (with 4,002 local governments overlapping 
on both samples). This sample revision will ensure that this portion of 
the survey meets OMB's statistical standards. We will continue to 
collect the concurrent samples for four quarters at which time

[[Page 72447]]

a bridge study will be conducted and the old sample will be 
discontinued.
    The Quarterly Survey of State Tax Collections (Form F-72) is sent 
to a state-level revenue, finance, or budget agency in each state to 
report tax collection data for the preceding 3-month period.
    The Quarterly Survey of Selected Local Taxes (Form F-73) is sent to 
111 local tax collection agencies known to have substantial collections 
of local general sales and/or local individual income taxes.

II. Method of Collection

    The F-71 survey is conducted by mail canvass from the Census 
Bureau's National Processing Center (NPC). Responses are either 
screened manually and then entered in the system at the NPC or entered 
directly by respondents via the Internet.
    The F-72 and F-73 forms are sent to respondents by email or 
facsimile (as requested by respondent). Respondents submit the forms by 
mail, email, facsimile or Internet. (Email and facsimile are accepted 
but not encouraged.)
    In those instances when we are not able to obtain a response a 
follow-up is conducted.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0112.
    Form Number: F-71, F-72, and F-73.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,108.
    Estimated Time per Response: 25 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,159.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $162,151.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Section 182.

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 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: November 21, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-28216 Filed 11-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P