[Federal Register: January 12, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 7)]
[Notices]               
[Page 1170]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12ja09-27]                         


[[Page 1170]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau

 
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of Local 
Government Finances (School Systems)

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.

ACTION: Notice.

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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: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before March 13, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 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 Wendy Stralow-Owens, U.S. Census Bureau, 
Governments Division, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233-6800; 
(301) 763-1510.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau plans to request an extension 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 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 electronic 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 directly to 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 directly to 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 directly to school 
systems in states where the state education agency cannot provide 
information on either indebtedness or assets. This letter combines the 
items requested on Forms F-33-L1 and F-33-L2.
    The data collection is identical to the previous collections.

II. Method of Collection

    The U.S. Census Bureau collects almost all of the finance data for 
local school systems from state education agency databases through 
central collection arrangements with the state education agencies. The 
states transfer most of this information in electronic format 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 Control Number: 0607-0700.
    Form Number: F-33, F-33-1, F-33-L1, F-33-L2, and F-33-L3.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,249.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1.29 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,185.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $96,000.
    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: January 6, 2009.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-305 Filed 1-9-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-07-P