2011 Government Units Survey

Important

2012 Census of Governments

The 2012 Census of Governments is fast approaching. All of us have a strong interest in the early and successful completion of the 2012 Census of Governments as it will directly impact your government and the communities that you serve.

Conducted every 5 years, the Census of Governments will provide information needed to identify the scope and nature of the nation's state and local government sector. By identifying and measuring state and local governments, this will provide insight into state and local government activity and will serve as the foundation for developing national economic and public policy. This information will also be analyzed by a variety of entities such as state and local governments, the U.S. Congress, the private sector, teachers and students, academic professionals, other federal agencies, and the general public to gain an understanding state and local government activity.

In October 2011, your office will receive the Organization component of the 2012 Census of Governments which will collect information on the number and type of governments by state, and their activities. When your office receives the questionnaire we are counting on you to ensure that the questionnaire will receive prompt attention and that it will be completed and returned as soon as possible. Please accept our appreciation in advance for ensuring the success of the 2012 Census of Governments.

If you have any questions please contact the U.S. Census Bureau’s Governments Division at 1-800-242-2184 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Sincerely,

• American Society for Public Administration

• American Planning Association

• National Association of Secretaries of State

• National League of Cities

• U.S. Conference of Mayors

• National Association of Towns and Townships

• Council of State Community Development

• Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research

• American Institute on Research

• National Association of Counties

• National Association of Conservation Districts

“The public service that the Census Bureau has done with that data in terms of our ability to understand the performance of the state and local sector is, to my mind, almost immeasurable." - Robert Inman, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania