Statistics on State and Local Governments

Statistics on State and Local Governments Joseph Dalaker U.S. Census Bureau Economy-Wide Statistics Division Disclaimer: This report is released to inform interested parties of research and to encourage discussion of work in progress. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Statistics About Governments • Main purposes • Provide economic statistics about governments • Serve as public-sector counterpart to private sector • Track activity of governments over time • Response is voluntary • Public nature of the data

State and Local Government Data: Uses • Calculation of important economic measures • GDP: Bureau of Economic Analysis • Flow of Funds: Federal Reserve Board • Time series analysis • Comparative analysis • Public Policy • Tax, health, education, welfare, transit, etc.

Governments as Producers 7.3% Federal Govt. 11.4% State & Local Govt. Components of Gross Domestic Product Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Table 1.1.5 Gross Domestic Product 2013

Governments as Economic Entities • Governments as employers: • 16.5% of civilian labor force • 2.1% federal government • 14.4% state & local government • 4.0% state government • 10.4% local government (March 2012) Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012 Current Employment Statistics Survey and U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Census of Governments: Public Employment and Payroll

Government Statistics in the News

History of Statistics on Governments • 1902 First comprehensive compilation of governmental data by the new “Census Office” • 1957 First Census of Governments focusing on four major areas of data collection • -Governmental Organization • -Taxable Property Values • -Employment • -Finances • 1850 Information collected in the Decennial Census included tax levies, governmental debt,and wealth, and the number and types of schools and their pupils 1790 First Population Census • 1840 • Decennial Census collected some data on the number and types of schools and pupils 2012 Census of Governments • 1950 Congress enacted legislation which provided that a “Census of Governments” be taken every 5 years, for years ending in “2” and “7” (Title 13, Section 161, U.S. Code) • 1880 Inquiries included the number of schools, details about cities including sewage and drainage, utilities, and public services and 105 additional questions that assessed governments’ financial conditions

Census Bureau’s Statistics on Governments

Statistics on Governments

Census of Governments • First conducted in 1957 • Conducted every 5 years – ending 2 & 7 • Content: • Counts & structure of governments • Employment measures • Financial measures

Census vs. Annual Surveys • Content is the same • Number of governments surveyed is different

State and Local Government Data Collection Methods • Mail canvass • Electronic reporting - Centurion & Harvester • Central collection - paper & electronic • Compilations

Content • Government Organization • Government Finances • Public Employment and Payroll

Government Organization • Why is understanding government structure important? • What is included and what isn’t? • How are basic services provided? • Which comparisons are valid?

Defining a Government Three criteria for defining a government: • Existence as an organized entity • Governmental character • Substantial autonomy • Fiscal independence • Administrative independence

Governmental Structure • Core government Executive, legislative, and sometimes judicial • Dependent agencies • Jointly governed activities

Types of Governments Measured and Defined Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Census of Governments

Examples Government • Airport authorities • Cities • Counties • Sanitary districts • States Non-Government • Homeowners’ associations • Most charter schools Many services can be provided either by governments or by private entities – what matters is how the entity is organized, whether it has governmental character, and whether it has substantial autonomy.

Differences in Governmental Structure Among States Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Census of Governments

Number of Local Governments: United States 1982 1952 2012 The Evolving Picture of our Governments 116,694 90,056 82,290 Total Number of Governments Source: 1952, 1982, & 2012 Census of Governments Counties 2% Counties 4% Counties 3%

Government Finances • Revenue by type • Expenditure by character & function • Debt by term • Cash and securities by type of holding • Data products by: • topic (tax collections, public schools, pension systems) • level of government (state, local, state and local combined)

Finance Data are Nested State Tax State Finance Data Public Pension Data State and Local Finance Data Public Education Data

Sources of Tax Revenue – Variety Among StatesPercent Distribution of State Government Tax Revenue Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013 Survey of State Government Tax Collections

Government Employment • Full-time employees • Full-time gross payroll • Part-time employees • Part-time gross payroll • Computed FTE

State & Local Government Employment,U.S. Total and Alabama Percentage of Employees by Government Function SOURCE: 2012 Census of Governments: Employment

www.census.gov/govs

Reimbursable Programs

Reimbursable Surveys • Follow the survey life cycle • Differences • Contract negotiation • Collection content determined by sponsor • Deliverables content and date set by sponsor • Follow sponsor’s statistical and publication standards • Funding comes from sponsor • Sponsoring agency releases the data

Conclusion • The Census Bureau collects information on state and local governments including their characteristics, finances, and employment. • The Census Bureau also collects information for other agencies on topics including libraries, education, and criminal justice.

Questions?

Thank you! Joseph Dalaker Section Chief Data User Outreach and Education Branch Economy-Wide Statistics Division U.S. Census Bureau 1-800-242-2184 govs.cms.inquiry@census.gov

Statistics on State and Local Governments