The Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS)

BAS-9(L)
(9-2012)

DC

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) to update our records
regarding changes to legal boundaries, names, and governmental status of all governmental units
effective on or before January 1 of the survey year. This voluntary survey is an important opportunity
for you to ensure that we have the correct boundary and legal name for your county, as well as the
governments within your jurisdiction. The Census Bureau will use the boundary information you provide
to report data from the Population Estimates Program (PEP), the American Community Survey (ACS),
and other Census programs and surveys.
Please review your county boundary for accuracy, and also your BAS form for the functional status of
governments within your county. You may include changes for the entities within your jurisdiction, but it
is not required.
The Census Bureau offers consolidation agreements to reduce the burden on local governments and
avoid a duplication of effort. At the county level, a county government can provide updates for their
county boundary, as well as for entities within the county that agree to the consolidation. Counties
participating in a consolidation agreement are required to obtain the permission of the entities for which
they will report changes and updates. If your state has legislation in place requiring governments to
report boundary changes to the county, you may provide us this legal documentation in lieu of obtaining
permission from the individual entities. The Census Bureau will not mail BAS materials to the indicated
entities next year or any subsequent year after an agreement has been completed. You can find more
information about BAS consolidation agreements on our Web site at
.
The enclosed checklist contains information about the materials in your BAS package. These materials
reflect the response method that your county previously requested. Information describing how to
update the enclosed materials is available in the BAS Respondent Guide. This information is also
provided on the BAS Web site.
All annexations received by March 1 will be included in this year’s boundary delivery for the PEP and
the ACS. All annexation and boundary corrections received by May 31 will be included in your BAS
materials for next year. The Census Bureau will attempt to include street and landmark updates as
resources permit. Please note that your response to the BAS does not replace any state reporting
requirement.
The Census Bureau appreciates your response to this important voluntary survey. If you need any
assistance with this request, please e-mail , telephone 1–800–972–5651, or
visit our Web site at .
Sincerely,

Thomas L. Mesenbourg, Jr.
Acting Director
Enclosures

census.gov