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

Components of Gross Domestic ProductSource: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Table 1.1.5 Gross Domestic Product 2013

-10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Net Exports-3.0%

Personal Consumption

68.5% Private Domestic Investment

15.8%

Government Expenditure

18.7%

7.3% Federal Govt.

11.4% State & Local Govt.

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

6

Government Statistics in the News

1790 First Population Census

1840 Decennial Census collected some data on the number and types of schools and pupils

1850 Information collected in the Decennial Census included tax levies, governmental debt, and wealth, and the number and types of schools and their pupils

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

1902 First comprehensive compilation of governmental data by the new “Census Office”

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)

1957 First Census of Governments focusing on four major areas of data collection-Governmental Organization-Taxable Property Values-Employment-Finances

History of Statistics on Governments

2012 Census of Governments

Census Bureau’s Statistics on Governments

Statistics on Governments

Frequency Survey/ProgramData Available For:

Data Items Included Sponsoring AgencyUS State County

Every 5 YearsCensus of Governments X X X Number of Units, Employment,

Finance, etc. Census Bureau

Government Units Survey X Functions performed, authorizing legislation, etc. Census Bureau

Annual

Annual Survey of Public Employment and Payroll X X X Employment, wages, etc. Census Bureau

Annual Survey of State Government Finances X X Revenue, expenditures, etc. Census Bureau

Annual Survey of School System Finances X X X Revenue, expenditures, etc. Census Bureau/NCES

Annual Survey of Public Pensions X X X Contributions, assets, etc. Census Bureau

Annual Survey of Local Government Finances X X X Revenue, expenditures, debt, assets Census Bureau

Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections X X Tax revenue Census Bureau

Quarterly

Quarterly Survey of Public Pensions X Contributions, assets, etc. Census Bureau

Quarterly Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenues X X Tax revenue Census Bureau

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

90,106Government Organiz ations

90,056Local Governments

38,910General Purpose

Governments

3,031Counties

19,519Cities

16,360Townships

51, 146Special Purpose

Governments

38,266Special

Districts

12,880Independent

School Districts

50 State Governments

Types of GovernmentsMeasured 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

State County Governments

City Governments

Township Governments

Special District Governments

School District Governments

Alabama 67 461 0 548 132

Connecticut 0 30 149 447 17

Georgia 153 535 0 510 180

Indiana 91 569 1,006 752 291

New York 57 614 929 1,174 679

Texas 254 1,214 0 2,600 1,079

Washington 39 281 0 1,285 295

1952 1982 2012116,694 82,290 90,056

Total Number of Governments

Number of Local Governments: United States

The Evolving Picture of our Governments

Source: 1952, 1982, & 2012 Census of Governments Counties

2%Counties

3%Counties

4%

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

Public Pension Data

Public Education Data

State Finance Data

State and Local Finance

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

Percent Distribution of State Government Tax Revenue

Total % Sales Total General Sales

Selective Sales

License Taxes Total

Income Taxes Total

Individual Income

Corporation Income

All Other Taxes Total

Property Taxes Other Taxes

U.S. Average 100 46.4 30.1 16.3 6.6 41.9 36.6 5.3 5 .2 1.6 3.6

Alabama 100 50.8 25.2 25.6 5.3 38.7 34.6 4.1 5.2 3.5 1.7

Alaska 100 4.9 X 4.9 2.6 12.3 X 12.3 85.2 1.9 78.3

Delaware 100 14.6 X 14.6 37.6 43.0 33.8 9.3 4.8 X 4.8

Florida 100 82.5 60.1 22.4 5.8 6.0 X 6.0 5.8 >.01 5.8

Indiana 100 60.8 40.1 20.7 4.1 34.0 29.4 4.6 3.6 .04 3.6

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

Utilities

Transportation

Other

Environment & housing

General administration

Social services & income maintenance

Public safety

Education

2.1

3.8

3.2

4.9

5.7

18.8

9.6

51.9

2.6

3.0

3.8

4.9

6.5

11.1

11.1

57.0

U.S.Alabama

SOURCE: 2012 Census of Governments: Employment

Percentage of Employees by Government Function

www.census.gov/govs

Reimbursable Programs

Reimbursable ProgramsFrequency Survey/Program Data Available For: Data Items Included Sponsoring AgencyUS State County Place

Every 5 Years

Census of State and Federal Adult Correctional Facilities (Prison Census) X X Staffing, facility size, capacity, programs offered, basic

prisoner information BJS (DOJ)

Census of Jail Inmates X X X X Staffing, facility size, capacity, programs offered, inmate characteristics BJS (DOJ)

Biennial

Academic Libraries Survey X X Expenditures, staffing, circulation, etc. NCES (Dept. of Education)

Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement X X Demographic, offense, etc. OJJDP (DOJ)Juvenile Residential Facility Survey X X Facility characteristics OJJDP (DOJ)

Survey of Government Research and Development Expenditures X X Type of R&D, funding, etc. NSF

Annual

Annual Survey of Jails X X X Jails and inmates BJS (DOJ)Criminal Justice Expenditure and Employment

Survey X Finance and employment BJS (DOJ)

Annual Survey of School System Finances X X X X Revenue, expenditures, etc. Census Bureau/NCESFederal Audit Clearinghouse Finance OMB

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey - Public X X X X Health plans, premiums, benefits, and enrollment AHRQ

National Public Education Financial Survey X X Revenue, expenditures NCES (Dept. of Education)

Common Core of Data - Non-fiscal X X Directory, membership, teachers, staff, dropouts,

graduates NCES (Dept. of

Education)Education Demographic and Geographic

Estimates X X Demographic and geographic support NCES (Dept. of Education)

Public Libraries Survey X X Circulation, visits, staffing, etc. IMLSSurvey of Sexual Violence X X X Allegations, demographics BJS (DOJ)

National Prisoner Statistics 8 X X Characteristics of persons under sentence of death and of execution BJS (DOJ)

Teacher Compensation Survey* X X Salaries, expenditures, degree earned, etc. NCES (Dept. of Education)

BiannualNational Prisoner Statistics 1B X X Characteristics of population BJS (DOJ)

School Attendance Boundary Survey X X Geographic school boundaries NCES (Dept. of Education)

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