Modernization and Reengineering of the Census of Governments Presented at the State Data Center Annual Training Conference Lisa Blumerman Governments Division October 14, 2010

2 Introduction to Governments Division Main Purposes of Governments Division programs –Provide socio-economic statistics about governments –Act as a public-sector counterpart to economic data of business, industry, and services –Track activity of governments over time Response is voluntary Virtually no confidentiality restrictions

3 Importance of the Data Tells the story of the fiscal welfare of federal, state, and local government Our data constitute 12 percent of Gross Domestic Product Our data are the only source of comprehensive, uniform statistics on governments – we are the gold standard Helps policy makers make important, informed decisions

4 Base Programs Census of Governments and related programs –Finance Data – revenues, expenditures, debt, & assets –Employment Data – number of employees & payroll –Organizational Data – number of governments & character Some of the oldest continuous data collections –First survey of State Government Finances, 1902 –“Modern day” Census of Governments, 1957

5 Base Programs

6 Reimbursable Programs Because of Governments Division expertise in the public-sector, surveys are conducted on behalf of other agencies Historically, the surveys compliment the work of the base programs

7 Reimbursable Programs

Hot Off the Press! Consolidated Federal Funds Report & Federal Aid to States FY09 (August 2010) Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll FY09 (August 2010) Quarterly Tax, 2 nd Q. FY10 (September 2010) Quarterly Retirement, 2 nd Q. FY10 (October 2010) 8

9 State and Local Government Statistics at a Crossroads 2007 report issued by the Committee on National Statistics (CNStat) Suggested 21 recommendations for improving existing programs Working toward addressing the majority of recommendations by the 2012 Census of Governments 9

Summary of CNStat Recommendations CNStat Report Themes Data Quality, Relevance, and Utility Dissemination Timeliness 10

11 CNStat Theme: Data Quality, Relevance, and Utility Recommendation: Get feedback from users Progress Update –Increasing participation in user meetings –Series of focus groups with variety of data users in both the Federal statistical community and the private research community –Presentation to the Census Bureau’s Professional Advisory Committee, April

12 CNStat Theme: Data Quality, Relevance, and Utility Recommendation: Conduct research on barriers to response and use results to develop strategies for response improvement Progress Update: –Division launched Quality Improvement Program Small reporting practices and nonresponse follow-up study will lead to revised questionnaires and content. Visited state and local governments in Illinois (August) and Pennsylvania (September). Future states to be identified. –Conducted cognitive testing for the Quarterly Tax survey 12

13 CNStat Theme: Data Quality, Relevance, and Utility Recommendation: Conduct research on existing methods to identify efficiencies and improvements Progress Update: –Re-organized the division to develop an area devoted to research and methodology –Redesigning all aspects of the Quarterly Tax survey –Local Finance Central Collection Evaluation –Increase efforts with Census Bureau stakeholders, including advisory committees, SDC, CIC, and FSCPE programs 13

14 CNStat Theme: Dissemination Recommendation: Facilitate wider dissemination of products by issuing press releases; add value to existing data by providing simple derived measures; provide users with tools and documentation Progress Update: –Regular press releases began in October 2008 with the release of 2007 Census of Employment data –Introduction of quarterly surveys to “Tip Sheets” and planning on developing quarterly press releases –Introduced new analytical material to accompany releases –Availability through Build-A-Table and Website redesign –Stakeholder support and education of constituents 14

Build-A-Table Select category Select variables Retrieve data 15

16 CNStat Theme: Timeliness Recommendation: Research the benefits/costs of adopting earlier release procedures, i.e., releasing preliminary estimates or releasing estimates as they are compiled Progress Update: –Successful in moving up the release of several products –Some constraints due to data processing include reviewing existing processes and methods to determine where efficiencies can be made (reengineering efforts) 16

Modernization and Reengineering ADD SLIDE of WEB SITE 17

Research projects (sample design, dashboards, “decision- based” estimation, small area estimation, nonresponse bias studies) Governments Division Report Series –Available at: Training and development of staff through conference attendance, seminars, and courses Research Program 18

Data User Workshops 6 Data User Workshops –5 small exchanges in the fall and winter –1 data user conference, March 2010 Workshops explored the varying needs for data on government statistics, specifically: –Research questions and data needs and uses; –Identified government statistics data that are most useful; –Identified and assisted in prioritizing additional data needs; and, –Identified potential data quality issues. Planning to continue workshops each year 19

20 Next Steps on Modernization and Reengineering Continued involvement with the user community Continuation of Quality Improvement Program – “QuIP Trips” Content review and determination for the 2012 Census of Governments Revitalized product line Modernized and then reengineered systems

21 How We Can Work Together Reengage partnership efforts with YOU! Interact with your government and community to: –Disseminate products –Educate users through online tools, custom tabs, and Webinars –Increase state and local government response –Support of our programs Your ideas?

Questions? Lisa Blumerman Division Chief Governments Division For updated information on our efforts, please visit: 22