[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 240 (Monday, December 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 80764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27402]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

[Docket Number [201123-0315]]


2022 Census of Governments

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of determination and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (U.S. Census Bureau) publishes this 
notice to request public comment on the content of the 2022 Census of 
Governments. This collection will be primarily electronic using a 
secure encrypted internet data collection system called Centurion. The 
Census of Governments is conducted at 5-year intervals (years ending in 
2 and 7) and is the most comprehensive compilation of statistics about 
U.S. state and local governments.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 12, 
2021 to ensure consideration of your comments on the 2022 Census of 
Governments content.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments regarding the 2022 Census of 
Governments to Raemeka Mayo, Assistant Division Chief, Public Sector 
Programs, Economy-Wide Statistics, Room 5K179, Washington, DC 20233; or 
Email [[email protected]].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raemeka Mayo, Assistant Division 
Chief, Public Sector Programs, Economy-Wide Statistics, Room 5K179, 
Washington, DC 20233, by phone (301) 763-4688, or by email [email protected]>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The granting of specific authority to conduct the program is found 
in Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 161, which authorizes 
and requires the Census of Governments. Section 161 of the statute 
directs the Secretary of Commerce to ``. . .take, compile, and publish 
for the year 1957 and for every fifth year thereafter a census of 
governments. Each such census shall include, but shall not be limited 
to, data on taxes and tax valuations, governmental receipts, 
expenditures, indebtedness, and employees of states, counties, cities, 
and other governmental units.''
    This notice announces that the Census Bureau is preparing to 
conduct the 2022 Census of Governments. The Census of Governments is 
the U.S. government's official 5-year measure of state and local 
governments, and has been taken periodically since 1957. The Census of 
Governments is the most comprehensive source of information about state 
and local governments from the national to the local level. These 
Census of Governments data products provide unique basic measures for 
U.S. state and local governments. Data include details on debt and 
assets, as well as revenues and expenditures and employment by 
government function. Published data cover approximately 90,000 state 
and local governments that includes approximately 3,000 counties and 
35,000 cities and towns, 13,000 independent school districts, and 
39,000 special districts. The Census of Governments is the most 
comprehensive, comparable, and precise source of uniform statistics on 
economic activity of state and local Governments. It provides detailed, 
high quality, and authoritative statistics that meet the needs of 
government, businesses, policymakers, academic researchers, and the 
American public. The program's data products provide essential 
information to Congress and federal agencies for planning and 
evaluating intergovernmental programs. Moreover, they provide the 
official measures of output for state and local governments and serve 
much of the foundation for the National Income and Product Accounts, 
Gross Domestic Product estimates, and other composite measures of the 
Nation's economic performance. These data provide benchmarks for other 
federal statistical series, including current surveys, such as the 
Justice Assistance Data Survey and Quarterly Summary of State and Local 
Government Tax Revenue, conducted by the Census Bureau. Census of 
Governments data are also used by business organizations and economic 
development agencies to provide insight into the complex nature and 
fiscal health of state and local government finances.

B. Data Collection

    The 2022 Census of Governments will be conducted by electronic 
collection (99 percent internet Collection). The electronic instrument, 
Centurion, provides improved quality with automatic data checks, and is 
context-sensitive to assist the data provider in identifying potential 
reporting problems before submission, thus reducing the need for 
follow-up. Centurion is internet-based, eliminating the need for 
downloading software and increasing the integrity and confidentiality 
of the data. The Census Bureau will furnish usernames and passwords for 
the electronic instrument to the organizations included in the survey. 
The Census Bureau also collects electronic data files through 
arrangements with state governments or customized electronic reporting 
instruments with state and local governments, and central collection 
arrangements with local governments.

C. Census of Governments Content

    The 2017 Census of Governments forms are available on https://census.gov/govs. This web page includes links to each respective 
survey's page, where the survey forms can be found under the tab, 
``Information for Respondents.'' Please take a moment to review the 
forms relevant to your interests and provide us with your comments for 
consideration as we prepare content for the 2022 questionnaires. We are 
particularly interested in comments on the usefulness of existing 
inquiries for continued inclusion and in suggestions for new measures 
that would be appropriate to include in the Census of Governments.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure 
to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of 
information displays a current valid Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) control number. The Census Bureau, through the proper established 
procedures, will be obtaining an OMB control number under the PRA as we 
get closer to launching this component in 2022.
    Steven D. Dillingham, Director, Bureau of the Census, approved the 
publication of this Notice in the Federal Register.

    Dated: December 8, 2020.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-27402 Filed 12-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P