81 FR 76553 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; State and Local Government Finance Collections

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 213 (November 3, 2016)

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)).

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 213 (Thursday, November 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76553-76554]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26606]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; State and Local 
Government Finance Collections

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 3, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 Dale C. Kelly, Chief, International Trade 
Management Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 5K185, 4600 Silver Hill 
Road, Washington, DC 20233; or by email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to request clearance for the collection 
tools necessary to conduct the public finance program, which consists 
of an annual collection of information and a quinquennial collection in 
the census years ending in ``2'' and ``7''. During the upcoming three 
years, we intend to conduct the 2017 Census of Governments--Finance and 
the 2018 and 2019 Annual Surveys of State and Local Government 
Finances.
    The Census of Governments--Finance and Annual Surveys of State and 
Local Government Finances collect data on state government finances and 
estimates

[[Page 76554]]

of local government revenue, expenditure, debt, assets, and pension 
systems nationally and within state areas. The surveys include the 
Annual Survey of State Government Finances, the Annual Survey of Local 
Government Finances, and the Annual Survey of Public Pensions. Data are 
collected for all agencies, departments, and institutions of the fifty 
state governments and for a sample of all local governments (counties, 
municipalities, townships, and special districts). Data for school 
districts are collected under a separate survey. In the census year, 
equivalent data are collected from all local governments. These three 
separate data collections are necessary to create the comprehensive 
financial picture for state and local governments. The combined data 
are released as part of the State and Local Government Finance 
statistical series. The three collections also produce individual data 
products that focus on state governments, local governments and public 
pensions in greater detail than the combined financial series as a by-
product of their collections for the combined data series.
    The Census Bureau provides these data to the Bureau of Economic 
Analysis to develop the public sector components of the National Income 
and Product Accounts and to the Federal Reserve Board for use in the 
Flow of Funds Accounts. Other Federal agencies that make use of the 
data include the Council of Economic Advisors, the Government 
Accountability Office, and the Department of Justice. Other users 
include state and local governments and related organizations, public 
policy groups, researchers, and private sector businesses.
    Statistics are produced as data files in electronic formats. The 
program has collected comprehensive and comparable governmental 
statistics since 1957.
    Starting with the 2017 collection, the Census Bureau proposes 
modifying the existing questions concerning actuarial funding of public 
pension plans for state-administered plans and adding these questions 
to the survey for locally-administered plans. These changes reflect 
changes in accounting standards and the needs of data users inside and 
outside the federal statistical system.

II. Method of Collection

    These surveys use multiple modes for data collection including 
Internet collection with a mailed invitation, telephone, and central 
collection. Other methods used to collect data and maximize response 
include collecting state and local government data through submitted 
financial audits, state financial reports, and comprehensive financial 
reports.
    The Census Bureau developed central collection agreements with 
state and large local government officials to collect the data from 
their dependent agencies and report to the Census Bureau as a central 
respondent. These arrangements eliminate the need for a mail invitation 
for approximately 5,500 governmental units in a sample year and 36,000 
during the Census of Governments. The arrangements reduce burden by 
greatly reducing the number of people who have to fill out a collection 
as the data are collected from a centralized source instead of from 
multiple sources. Currently, the Census Bureau has central collection 
arrangements to collect local government data with 27 states and state 
government data from all 50 states. The Census Bureau continues to 
expand the conversion of paper submissions into electronic formats by 
collaborating with state and local governments regarding electronic 
reporting of central collection data, and encouraging electronic 
responses from individual governments.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0585.
    Form Number: F-5, F-11, F-12, F-13, F-25, F-28, F-29, F-32, and F-
42.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 18,568/90,607 sample year/census 
year.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2.034/1.643 hours sample year/census 
year.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 37,767/148,867 hours sample 
year/census year.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.
    Respondents Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Sections 161 and 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.

Sheleen Dumas,
PRA Departmental Lead, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-26606 Filed 11-2-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P