Supporting Statement
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Census Bureau
Quarterly Survey of the Finances of
Public-Employee Retirement Systems
(F10)
OMB Control Number 0607-0143
Section B - Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
Description of Universe
The 100 largest systems, as measured by the system assets, account for about 90 percent of the total assets of all state and local government systems. The panel has remained unchanged. This survey does not produce any statistical estimates for the public employee systems universe.
2. Sampling Methodology and Estimating Procedures
This is a mail canvass survey. Respondents have the option of reporting using a Web-based survey instrument. No statistical methods are used to calculate the data and there is no statistical sampling. In those instances when we are not able to obtain a response, estimates are made for non respondents by using:
latest available annual data
historical data for the same system
Methods to Maximize Response
In an effort to maximize response Census Bureau Staff have taken the following steps over the past three years:
a. All retirement survey staff attended telephone followup training.
b. Intensified telephone followup efforts to nonrespondent units by beginning earlier in the survey cycle and employing techniques learned in training.
c. Obtained new contacts for chronic nonrespondent units.
d. Researched the availability of retirement system data on the Web and compiled available data for non respondents.
e. Created an alliance with the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS), in an effort to gain support of their membership.
f. Attended conferences and met with representatives from retirement systems to create relationships with respondents.
From 2005 to 2007, the percentage of units reporting for one or more quarters during a year
increased to 74 percent, 77 percent, and 82 percent respectively. Eleven units that were nonrespondents for all of 2005 and 2006, have reported for at least two consecutive quarters during 2007.
Units can and do continue to submit late data for prior quarters as well as revisions to prior quarter data. Adjustments are made to the data release to incorporate these late receipts and revisions. Census Bureau staff research the availability of quarterly retirement system data on the Web and compile available data for nonrespondents. Quarterly estimates are made for the nonrespondents based on their most recent annual survey data.
Census Bureau staff contacts nonrespondents through telephone calls and sends e-mail reminders. The Census Bureau recently created an alliance with NCPERS, in an effort to gain support for the Retirement Surveys from their membership. At the 2007 Conference of the National Association of State Retirement Administrators (NASRA) and the 2007 NCPERS, Census Bureau staff met with representatives of several state systems in the Quarterly Survey panel to highlight the importance of these data and to encourage their participation.
Testing of Procedures
The frequency, limited scope, flexibility, and continuity of this survey make it essentially self-testing. The Census Bureau has conducted this survey since 1968 and the content has been virtually unchanged for the past 20 years. During both technical and nonresponse telephone calls, we emphasize our flexibility concerning formats and procedures and encourage the survey panel to try alternatives that will facilitate their responses.
5. Contact
Contact the person listed below for Statistical Aspects and Data Collection:
Sheryl L. Jones
(301) 763-1529
Survey Statistician
Governments Division
Attachment
1. Form F-10 with cover letter on the form
| File Type | application/octet-stream |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 0000-00-00 |