Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Government Units Survey, 23541 [2011-10068]

Agencies

• Census Bureau
• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 23541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10068]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Government 
Units Survey

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 June 27, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at dHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Debra Coaxum, Chief, Sampling Frame Research and 
Development Branch, Governments Division, U.S. Census Bureau, 
Washington, DC 20233 (or via the Internet at 
Debra.L.Coaxum@census.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau plans to request approval of the 2011 
Government Units Survey data collection form. The Government Units 
Survey (GUS) is the directory survey for the 2012 Census of 
Governments. The survey has the following purposes: (1) To produce the 
official count of local government units in the United States; (2) To 
obtain descriptive information on the basic characteristics of 
governments; (3) To identify and delete inactive units; (4) To identify 
file duplicates and units that were dependent on other governments; and 
(5) To update and verify the mailing addresses of governments.
    In 2007, the Government Organization form was mailed to special 
districts only. The form (G-30) collected only basic information on the 
governing board, authorizing legislation, the Web address, agency 
activity, and employment and payroll data. The employment and payroll 
data were used in lieu of a response to the March 2007 Census of 
Governments: Employment for special district governments.
    For 2012, the GUS collects more data and will be mailed out to 
municipalities, townships, counties, and special districts. The GUS 
contains nine broad content areas: Background information, debt, 
license and permit fees, taxes, retirement/pension plan, government 
activity, public services, judicial or legal activities, and finance. 
The first eight content areas consist predominantly of yes/no questions 
and are designed to collect information on general characteristics of 
the government. The finance section of the questionnaire requests four 
numerical values on payroll, expenditures, revenue, and debt.
    Two GUS forms are currently being pretested using a split panel 
design to study the effects of using headers to inform the respondent 
of section content versus a form with no section segmentation. The 
final questionnaire will be determined pending the results of the split 
panel design analysis.

II. Method of Collection

    Each of the estimated 76,500 non-school governments will be sent a 
form. Respondents will be asked to verify their existence, correct name 
and address information, answer questions on the form, and return it. 
Both a paper collection instrument and a Web collection instrument will 
be available for respondents to use beginning October 11, 2011.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0930.
    Form Number: Not available at this time.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: County, municipality, township, and special 
district governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 76,500.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.67 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 51,255.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $1,242,934.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Section 161.

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: April 21, 2011.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-10068 Filed 4-26-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P