High response saves 2010 census $1.6B in costs

[FR7 Baptist]

WASHINGTON — With the 2010 census nearly finished, the government said Tuesday it will save $1.6 billion in the cost of the U.S. population count because of strong public response and no major problems.
The cost of the census was originally budgeted at $14.7 billion, with emergency dollars set aside for additional outreach in cases such as a natural disaster, a flu epidemic or a major operational breakdown.
Because such problems were not extensive, the Census Bureau saved about $800 million, officials said. The agency, which is a part of the Commerce Department, reduced another $800 million in costs due to a higher-than-expected mail response rate of 72 percent, as well as quick field work from census takers who visited 47 million homes of people who did not reply by mail.
The Census Bureau said it was still conducting checks on the accuracy of its data, which will be used to distribute House seats and more than $400 billion in federal aid. Results will be released beginning in late December.

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[targus]

13.1 billion sounds like a lot of money to me.

The 2000 census cost 6.8 billion.

With inflation 6.8 billion in 2000 is something like 8.4 billion in today's dollars.

That is a cost increase in inflation adjusted dollars of about 56%.

Was there a 56% increase in the population since 2000?

No. Then this years census cost a lot more than the last census.

That they came in under a much larger budget doesn't really mean anything.

 

[Salty]

I wonder how much they spent in sending letters out saying the cenus form was on its way

 

[FR7 Baptist]

My Life as a Fed, Part III

13.1 billion sounds like a lot of money to me.

The 2000 census cost 6.8 billion.

With inflation 6.8 billion in 2000 is something like 8.4 billion in today's dollars.

That is a cost increase in inflation adjusted dollars of about 56%.

Was there a 56% increase in the population since 2000?

No. Then this years census cost a lot more than the last census.

That they came in under a much larger budget doesn't really mean anything.

It is a lot and I don't want to downplay that. Part of the reason it cost as much as it did was because of the Hand Held Computer debacle. Basically the Bureau was going to purchase GPS-equipped HHCs for every enumerator. That would have saved money because it would allow Census data to be transmitted electronically, thus reducing backend staff needs. They ordered the HHCs, just enough for Address Canvassing, and used them for that and it turned out they were so problematic that the Bureau scrapped them, didn't order anymore, and went back to pencil and paper.

As for me, I finished Field Verification today. They added an operation, NRFU Residual Follow-up, for the small number of housing units for which we don't have valid data for whatever reason. This is scheduled to run August 12-25 and that will be the final field operation. I'm on call for that in case there's an opening, but today may have been my final day with the Bureau. I still have my badge and bag and I haven't been officially terminated, but I don't know and the office doesn't know if I'll be needed. I guess I'll find out soon.

So, what's next for me? I'll work NRFU RES if I'm called. I start back college on the 30th; I'm looking forward to that. I'm going to begin looking for a part-time job to do while I'm in college. I'm sure having a letter of recommendation and another reference from this job will help because lacking that hurt in my last job search.

So, while I enjoyed working for the Bureau, met and got to work with a lot of great people, gained work experience, performed my job very well and made lots of money, all good things must come to an end. I'm really grateful that I got the opportunity to serve the public in this position.

 

[KenH]

I'm really grateful that I got the opportunity to serve the public in this position.

Thank you for your service to our country. :thumbs:

 

[FR7 Baptist]

Thank you for your service to our country. :thumbs:

LOL, you make it sound like I was in the military or something. I'd rather save that particular phrase for those in the armed forces. This was a nice summer gig that just happened to be in the public sector. However, I was mindful of the fact that I was getting paid by taxpayer money and I strove to gather accurate data in the most efficient manner possible.

 

[KenH]

Serving the public is serving the public. One doesn't have to be in the armed forces to be in public service.