Mr. A. T. SAMUELSON. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, U.S. General Accounting Office, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. SAMUELSON: Governor McKeithen has asked me to respond to your letter of May 20 wherein you invited Louisiana's participation in adapting the federal census to better serve state needs. We can see a definite advantage to having a mid-decade determination of population so that Louisiana's limited resources can be allocaated in relation to where its citizens live, and where the greatest needs exist. A sample survey would produce adequate results for our needs while avoiding the higher costs incurred by current census methods. Municipal population figures as provided by the census are used by Louisiana to allocate funds under a tobacco tax revenue-sharing program and to determine qualification for participation in a civil service program administered by the state for fire and police forces in municipalities with population of 7,000 or more. The type of information (as to subject matter and geographic detail) most useful to Louisiana would be economic and migration data. In addition to telling where the population gains and losses occurred, the census should do a better job of telling why more people migrated to their new location and identify their previous residence. A general suggestion is that there be less time and money spent on housing data and more data on sources and amounts of income. Thank you again for allowing us to participate in this evaluation. We trust that you will continue to invite comments from our state on matters of interest to Louisiana. Sincerely, W. T. HACKETT, Jr., Executive Director. STATE OF COLORADO, Mr. A. T. SAMUELSON, Director, U.S. General Accounting Office, DEAR MR. SAMUELSON: Reference is made to your recent letter requesting information regarding the uses of census information by State and local governments. In addition to reapportionment of various electoral districts, some of the more important uses of census information are in qualifying the rights and obligations of various governmental and governmentally regulated persons, entities, and corporate bodies, such as district attorneys, banks, municipalities, counties, county commissioners, public employees, special improvement districts, etc. Some examples are cited below: (1) Minimum capital requirements for a state bank are dependent on the community population wherein the bank is located. Colorado Revised Statutes 1963, 14-9-3 (B), requires that the . . . “Capital of common stock [of a state bank] shall consist of minimum amounts, according to community population wherein the bank is located, as follows: Population of less than six thousand, fifty thousand dollars; population of six thousand or more but less than fifty thousand, one hundred thousand dollars; population of fifty thousand or more, two hundred thousand dollars. (2) The compensation of district attorneys is dependent on judicial district population: "In every judicial district presided over by less than seven district judges and having a total population of fifty thousand or more according to the last preceding decennial federal census, the district attorney shall receive in full compensation for his services the sum of nine thousand dollars per annum." If the population of the district is between twenty-five and fifty thousand, the district attorney receives six thousand dollars per annum, and if the district's population is less than twenty-five thousand, he receives four thousand dollars per annum. (C.R.S. 1963, 45-2-1). (3) C.R.S. 1963, 120-13-35 (10) states that . . . "The department of highways shall install, operate, maintain and control at state expense all traffic control signals, signs and traffic control devices on state highway connecting links in cities and incorporated towns having a population of five thousand or less as determined by the latest federal census; and cities, cities and counties, and incorporated towns having a population in excess of five thousand according to the latest federal census shall maintain, operate and control such signals, signs and devices at their own expense." (4) C.R.S. 1963, 144–5–1 (2) states that . . . "The boards of county commissioners of adjacent counties may act jointly in establishing a veterans' service office for such counties and in appointing a veterans' service officer, . . . The salaries and expenses and all other jointly approved expenses necessary for the proper operation of such office, shall be paid monthly by the boards of county commissioners out of their respective county general funds in the manner provided by law, each county bearing its share thereof in the proportion that the population of each county bears to the total population of the counties combining to establish such office. Expansion of the census to every five years would reduce the need for a school census, particularly in the more stable population areas of the state. Colorado cities and towns also are authorized to take a census. Sincerely, Mr. A. T. SAMUELSON, JOHN A. LOVE, Governor. STATE OF ALASKA, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, Juneau, Alaska, June 1, 1971. Director, Civil Division, U.S. General Accounting Office, DEAR MR. SAMUELSON: Thank you very much for your letter of May 20, 1971, in regard to the possibility of a mid-decade census of population or an alternative method of producing statistical data. While we recognize that the decennial census has, as its principal purpose. the fixing of representation of the states in the Congress, it has become the single most important source of factual statistical data for states and local governmental units. The decennial census results in Alaska, for example, are the basis for mandatory reapportionment of the State Legislature and determine the extent of monies to be returned to the several municipalities under the State's revenue-sharing legislation. In addition to these constitutional or statutory uses of census data, there is in this sparsely settled State a pressing need for meaningful statistics for planning and programming purposes. The almost fifty-five thousand Indians, Eskimos and Aleuts of Alaska, for example, constitute a substantial percentage of this State's nonurban population. It is extremely important to the development of physical, social, and economic assistance programs to know the distribution, the economic status, the housing conditions and the social characteristics of our native people so that effective delivery systems may be designed to make governmental services more easily available to them. Because of the relatively small population base (just over three hundred thousand) of the State, population shifts that might be considered relatively insignificant elsewhere are extremely important in Alaska. Thus, in an attempt to determine the demographic changes resulting from the disastrous Good Friday earthquake in 1964, the municipal governments and the State were obliged to invest over $45,000 in a special census of the Greater Anchorage Area Borough in 1968. The Greater Juneau Borough also found it necessary to purchase the services of the Census Bureau to accomplish an intercensal count. The Division of Planning and Research in the Office of the Governor, the Employment Security Division of the State Department of Labor, and the Vital Statistics Branch of the Department of Health and Welfare are the principal statistical gathering activities financed by the State. Essential information not now included on a 100 percent basis in the decennial census format would include: (1) Detailed breakdown as to persons one-quarter or more Indian, Eskimo. or Aleut (qualifying for Bureau of Indian Affairs assistance): (2) Better per capita or family income reporting; (3) Establishment of geographic parameters (enumeration districts) more consistent with meaningful political or natural boundaries; (4) Better small area data (age and sex distribution, social characteristics. etc.); (5) Better capping and coordination with the State statistical agencies. The state of Alaska strongly supports the alternative of a mid-decade census of population in preference to a system of "sample surveys." We look forward to working closely with your office and with the U.S. Census Bureau in the development of census methods that will produce an even more meaningful flow of small area data. Thank you for inviting our comments, and please feel free to contact me should you require additional information as to Alaska's statistical needs. Sincerely, WILLIAM A. EGAN, Governor. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, Sacramento, Calif., June 10, 1971. Mr. A. T. SAMUELSON, Director, U.S. General Accounting Office, DEAR MR. SAMUELSON: Governor Reagan has asked me to respond to your letter of May 20 seeking information on our population data needs and independent efforts. From the standpoint of dollars per capita for total population of cities, our most important application of such data is in the determination of tax subventions from certain funds by the State Controller. A city in California receives annually, fifteen or more dollars per capita from state distribution of the gasoline tax, motor vehicle property tax and cigarette tax funds. Each city's share is established by the most recent federal Census or by an official estimate prepared by the population research staff in the State Department of Finance. California's counties also receive tax subventions on a similar basis but in lesser per capita amounts. The same research group provides official figures for a number of other purposes, some of which you have alluded to in your letter. A new alcoholic beverage license, for example, can only be issued when a county population increase is of a fixed magnitude. Relative shares of state and county support of Medi-Cal are determined by county population changes from a base year; other applications could be cited and in one case, at least, population forecasts have been used as a basis for county shares of the proceeds from a recreation facilities bond issue. In all of the examples I have mentioned, good public administration depends upon good population data and although we regard our population estimators as entirely competent, they need good census benchmarks upon which to base their estimates. The Census of 1970 was held only a little over a year ago, but with the passage of time its utility as a benchmark will inevitably fade, although it will still have other uses because of the vast amount of detail it contains. California is a state of rapid change and for many years state and local planners and researchers as well as those in the private sector have agreed that a decade is too long a time between counts. Our population staff has partially remedied this data lack by designing a census method for local government. Several hundred enumerations have been carried out in California during the past decade under local auspices but with strong guidance from the Department of Finance which supplies the census materials and training and arrange data processing. Because these enumerations are designed to improve local population estimating in subsequent years and to improve local data bases, they emphasize numbers of people, age, sex and labor force status. Additional socioeconomic or other planning information is incidental and collected only at the request of local officials. In comparison to the federal census they are extremely abbreviated, although diligent coverage is emphasized. The recent decennial census cost, I am told, 200 million dollars and I know that discussion of a five-year census in 1965 and the current study of the desirability of one in 1975 are weighing less costly alternatives. A carefully designed sample will yield important results on socioeconomic trends, but only for relatively large populations. Such a strategy might, indeed, help us in statewide planning in many of our agencies, but it will be completely inadequate to the task of improving local data bases for the programs I have discussed above and to which your letter refers. A complete count, abbreviated in content, would be essential to that goal. I believe if the information collected were limited to those items of the very widest applicability, a complete count in 1975 would be more useful than a sample survey of richer detail. It would obviate many of our local censuses and would enable all cities and counties to have a mid-decade population figure prepared for them. Hopefully it would be possible to include enough additional data to satisfy at least the more important needs of those interested only in the statewide picture and in these cases sampling would be a very efficient approach. We have a State Interdepartmental Research Coordinating Committee composed of representatives of the research offices of the state agencies. Should you wish to pursue the costs and benefits of variable alternatives with that committee, I am certain that you would find advice helpful. More detailed information on our state program of population estimates and enumerations is also available from the population Research Unit in the Department of Finance. who heads the Population Unit in the Department, is also chairman of census data subcommittee of the Interdepartmental Research Coordination Committee; he can serve as a point of contact for either group. Sincerely yours, VERNE ORR, Director of Finance. OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, STATE CAPITOL, Salem, Oreg., June 15, 1971. Mr. A. T. SAMUELSON, Director, U.S. General Accounting Office, DEAR MR. SAMUELSON: Thank you for your timely inquiry regarding the need for a mid-decade census of population. During the past decade, Oregon has been one of the leading states in terms of population growth. As a result, the development of a more refined, responsive data base for the purposes of planning and revenue distribution has received the highest priority from myself as well as my program assistants. The Fifty-Sixth Legislative Assembly, which recently adjourned, passed House Bill 1482. The purpose of this legislation is to upgrade the existing population estimating techniques employed by the state to more equitably distribute tax revenues between census years. Also, in order to strengthen the planning capabilities of the state, an effort is being made to house the population forecasting function within the Economic Research Unit of the Executive Department. It should be emphasized, however, that every effort made at the federal level to improve the existing measures of population would be very beneficial to state and local officials. In response to your request, I have enclosed several publications which explain the functions of the State Center for Population Research and Census. I am also sending copies of the existing state statutes pertaining to the use of census information. Currently, a portion of the revenues accruing from cigarette, liquor, gasoline and amusement taxes is redistributed to the various counties and cities on the basis of population. Accordingly, total population by five-year age groups, by county and incorporated city would be most useful. I wish to compliment you and your staff on taking a responsible attitude toward this very important issue. Your efforts will not go unappreciated. Administrators and planners at the state and local levels will require more timely information in the near future if they are to provide a higher quality of life and avoid the disastrous side effects of unplanned growth. If I may be of further assistance, please feel free to call on me. TOM MCCALL, Governor. STATE OF WASHINGTON, OFFICE OF PROGRAM PLANNING AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT, Mr. A. T. SAMUELSON, Director, U.S. General Accounting Office, DEAR MR. SAMUELSON: I am replying to your letter of May 20, 1971, to Governor Evans regarding census information for state and local governments. Your letter was referred to me because this office has the legal responsibility for the annual determination of the population of all municipalities and counties in the state. The population and enrollment estimates and projections developed by this office are used for the allocation of tax monies to state agencies, to all levels of education, and to local government. The Federal census provides us with a ten-year benchmark for evaluating our interim methods and procedures. In an activity which provides the basis for the allocation of monies on such a large scale as ours, it is desirable to have as many controls and check-points as feasible. Therefore, in response to your query, it would be desirable to have a mid-decade check-point. In order for a mid-decade census to have maximum value, the basic population and housing characteristics data should be gathered on a one hundred percent basis. At a minimum, total population, sex, race, age, and household relationships data should be gathered for all the population in order to provide the ‘hard core' data that is constantly being tracked for allocation and planning purposes. The smaller the scale of planning, the more necessary it is that data be shown for small geographical areas. Because we serve as a source for population data in the state, it would be desirable to have mid-decade census data available for the smallest geographical unit presently used in the ten-year census. In summary, we would favor a five-year census based on one hundred percent data collection for basic population and housing data and organized to the smallest geographical unit presently used in the federal census. I hope this adequately covers the points raised in your letter. If not, feel free to contact me for more specific information. Very truly yours, WALTER C. Howe, Jr., Director. STATE OF HAWAII, EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS, Honolulu, Hawaii, June 10, 1971. Mr. A. T. SAMUELSON, Director, U.S. General Accounting Office, DEAR MR. SAMUELSON: Thank you for your letter of May 20, 1971, in which you seek our views regarding the taking of the census more frequently than every ten years. We favor the taking of the census at intervals shorter than ten years. Hawaii has laws to which population figures are expressly or by implication relevant. These include our constitutional provision on apportionment of our legislature. Although our apportionment is based upon numbers of registered voters, we attempt, to the extent this is possible, to bring our apportionment in line with population. Our congressional districting is based on registered voters also. We do occasionally use population as a base for making a law applicable in one or more but not all counties. Section 248-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which provides for a distribution of grants-in-aid from the State to the counties relies, in part, on annual population estimates. Our primary need for more frequent census taking is in the area of planning, however. The following are some of our reasons for urging that censuses be taken hereafter on a quinquennial basis: 1. Up-to-date figures are required as a basis for the computation of accurate social, demographic, economic, health, housing, and other rates. Examples include birth rates, death rates, per capita personal income, labor force participation rates, school enrollment ratios, and per capita tax payments. Such rates are in turn necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of public health programs, efforts toward economic developments, educational progress, public finance legislation, and business decisions. 2. Quinquennial data would give us a far better basis for forecasting. 3. The 1968 Constitutional Convention, required to devise a legislative reapportionment plan for the State, would have greatly benefitted from up-to-date population data. Similar conventions are called decennially; hence, the 1978 convention would have access to a 1975 (rather than 1970) population count. 4. Current estimates provided by the Bureau of the Census or State or local agencies seldom meet our needs for recent data. Too often they lack the subject matter or geographic detail needed by administrators, planners, and researchers. |