[Federal Register: November 18, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 222)]
[Notices]
[Page 69935-69936]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18no05-27]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Survey of Local Government Finances (School Systems), Forms F-33,
F-33-1, F-33-L1, F-33-L2, and F-33-L3
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
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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: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 17,
2006.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 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 James R. Berry, U.S. Census Bureau, Governments
Division, Washington, DC 20233-6800; (301) 763-7317 or via the Internet
at James.R.Berry.Jr@census.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The U.S. Census Bureau plans to request an extension and revision
to the current Office of Management and Budget clearance for the Survey
of Local Government Finances (School Systems).
The Census Bureau collects education finance data as part of its
Annual Survey of State and Local Governments. This survey is the only
comprehensive source of public fiscal data collected on a nationwide
scale using uniform definitions, concepts and procedures. The
collection covers the revenues, expenditures, debt, and assets of all
public school systems. This data collection has been coordinated with
the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The NCES uses this
collection to satisfy its need for school system level finance data.
Information on the finance of our public schools is vital to
assessing their effectiveness. The products of this data collection
make it possible for users to search a single data base to obtain
information on such things as per pupil expenditures and the percent of
state, local, and Federal funding for each school system. Since the
passing of the No Child Left Behind Act there has been an increased
demand for data on the Nation's public schools. This survey provides
the needed information on the financial aspects of local school
districts.
The five forms used in the school finance portion of the survey
are:
Form F-33. This form contains item descriptions and definitions of
the elementary-secondary education finance items collected jointly by
the Census Bureau and the NCES. It is used primarily as a worksheet and
instruction guide by the state education agencies
[[Page 69936]]
that provide school finance data centrally for all of the school
systems in their respective states. All states supply their data by
electronic means.
Form F-33-1. This form is used at the beginning of each survey
period to solicit the assistance of the state education agencies. It
establishes the conditions by which the state education agencies
provide their school finance data to the Census Bureau.
Form F-33-L1. This is a supplemental letter sent to the school
systems in states where the state education agencies cannot provide
information on the assets of individual school systems.
Form F-33-L2. This is a supplemental letter sent to the school
systems in states where the state education agency cannot provide
information on the indebtedness of individual school systems.
Form F-33-L3. This is a supplemental letter sent to the school
systems in states where the state education agency cannot provide
information on either indebtedness or assets. This letter combines the
items requested on the forms F-33-L1 and F-33-L2.
The data collection is identical to the previous collections except
as follows:
Additional items will be added to Part I.A Local Revenue section.
Respondents were instructed to report these items as ``All other
taxes'' and ``Miscellaneous other local revenue'' in previous surveys.
They will be included as separate items beginning with this survey
cycle to coincide with other government surveys conducted by the Census
Bureau.
II. Method of Collection
The Census Bureau collects almost all of the finance data for local
school systems from state education agency data bases through central
collection arrangements with the state education agencies. The states
transfer most of this information in electronic format via e-mail and
over the Internet via file transfer protocol. The Census Bureau has
facilitated central collection of school finance data by accepting data
in whatever formats the states elect to transmit.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0607-0700.
Form Number: F-33, F-33-1, F-33-L1, F-33-L2, F-33-L3.
Type of Review: Regular.
Affected Public: State and local governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,058.
Estimated Time Per Response: 1.19 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,633.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $68,773.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., sections 161 and 182.
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: November 14, 2005.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-22851 Filed 11-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P