SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Census Bureau plans to request a revision and extension of the clearance for the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll and the Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances. The Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll collects state and local government data by function for full-time and part-time employees and payroll. Data collection is conducted through ten tailored instruments (Forms E1 through E10), each assigned to a government unit in accordance with its functional responsibilities. The Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances collects state and local government finance data including government revenue, expenditure, debt, and details on pension systems. Data are collected for all agencies, departments, and institutions of the 50 state governments and for a sample of all local governments (counties, municipalities, townships, and special districts). Data collection is conducted through five tailored instruments (Forms F11, F13, F28, F29, and F32), each assigned to a government unit in accordance with its functional responsibilities. Form F11 is used for public pension systems; Form F13 is used for state insurance trust systems; and Forms F28, F29, and F32 are used for local governments. Data for school districts is collected under a separate survey (Annual Survey of School System Finances) and are not included here.

In years ending with `2' and `7' this collection is conducted as a part of the Census of Governments. There is no difference in content collected between a Census of Governments year and non-Census year. In non-Census of Governments years, we only collect data from a sample of the entire government universe, whereas during a Census of Governments year we collect data from the entire universe. The upcoming three years of this collection will cover fiscal years 2027, 2028, and 2029. 2027 will be a Census of Governments year collection.

The Census Bureau plans to revise the Annual Survey of Local Government Finances (F-28) and the Annual Survey of Public Pensions (F-11) collections. These surveys are collected as part of the larger State and Local Government Finance Collections mentioned above. All other forms remain unchanged.

For Local Government Finances (F-28), the Census Bureau plans to add the collection of selected criminal justice intergovernmental expenditure details previously dropped to support the needs of the Bureau of Justice Statistics. In addition, a question to clarify payments made to retirement systems that the government is unable to classify will be added to remove classification issues in the financial admin and miscellaneous expenditure functions.

For Public Pensions (F-11), the Census Bureau plans to restructure the instrument to streamline collection and reduce respondent burden. The Census Bureau will combine several items including government contributions (into two items; own contributions and other government contributions), interest and dividends (into one item), state and local active membership (into one item), and state and local employee contributions (into one item). These revised questions will better align with Annual Comprehensive Financial Report structure, making collection easier for smaller pension system while affecting overall public estimates minimally. The Census Bureau will also drop sixteen actuarial data items only published in individual unit files, keeping fiduciary net position, actuarially determined contributions, discount rate, total pension liability, and net pension liability.

These changes will help to provide key data users with the data they need and modernize the survey's content to maintain the relevancy and sustainability of these data. Cognitive testing shows the addition and removal of the forementioned content did not negatively impact overall response.

The data collected are released as part of the State and Local Government Finance and Public Employment & Payroll statistical series. The collections also produce individual data products that focus on state governments, local governments, and public pensions in greater detail than the combined financial and employment 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 for constructing the functional payrolls in the public sector of the Gross Domestic Product, payroll being the single largest component of current operations. The Census Bureau also provides these data to the Federal Reserve Board for use in the Flow of Funds Accounts and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for use in the National Health Expenditure Accounts. Other Federal agencies that make regular use of the data include the Council of Economic Advisers, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Government Accountability Office, and the Department of Justice. State and local governments and related organizations, public policy groups, public interest groups, private research organizations, and private sector businesses also use these data.

Statistics are produced as data files in electronic formats published to the Census Bureau website and APIs.

II. Method of Collection

These surveys use multiple modes for data collection with the main collection method being internet data collection with a mailed invitation, followed by email, mail, and telephone follow-ups. Other methods used to collect data and maximize response include collecting state and local government data through administrative records such as submitted financial audits, state financial reports, and annual comprehensive financial reports via electronic or mailed files and/or records.

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 5,900 governmental units in a sample year and 33,000 during the year of the Census of Governments. The arrangements reduce burden by greatly decreasing the number of respondents who must complete an on-line response as the data are acquired from a centralized source instead of multiple sources.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0607-0585.

Form Number(s): F-11, F-13, F-28, F-29, F-32, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6, E-7, E-8, E-9, E-10. ( printed page 53402)

Type of Review: Regular submission, Request for a Revision of a Currently Approved Collection.

Affected Public: State and local governments.

Estimated Number of Respondents: Per sample year for F-forms: 13,959 and for E-forms: 16,960; Per census year for F-forms 58,991 and for E-forms: 87,440; Total: 30,919 per sample year and 146,431 per census year.

Estimated Time per Response: Average per sample year for F-forms: 3.09 hours and for E-forms: .84 hours; Average per census year for F-forms 3.00 and for E-forms: .88 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Per sample year for F-forms: 43,133 and for E-forms: 14,246 hours; Per census year for F-forms: 176,973 hours and for E-forms: 76,947 hours; Total: 57,379 per sample year, 253,920 per census year.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0. (This is not the cost of respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services required specifically by the collection.)

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 161 and 182.

IV. Request for Comments

We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include, or summarize, each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

91 FR 53400