American Community Survey delivers key data for county decision makers

To make informed decisions that affect their residents, county officials need credible, reliable and readily available data about the changing needs of their community. Questions such as where to build schools and fire stations and how to allocate scarce resources are informed by data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The American Community Sur vey (ACS) is the largest continuous household survey in the United States. By surveying about 2 percent of households a year, it provides a wealth of information about the economic, social and demographic characteristics of American people and communities. The ACS offers comprehensive, representative sta tistical information that helps drive decisions about resources important to local areas, including:

• schools, job training centers and hospitals
• roads, bridges and transportation projects
• location of new businesses
• care for children, veterans and seniors
• emergency services
• housing values and rent costs

The ACS is a national resource, and its value to counties is immense. It gives every county regardless of its size access to a wide range of data that measure its progress and well-being. The survey covers every geographic area in the U.S., making it the only uniform measure that every county nationwide can use. It is the only available source of data for many of the issues that it covers, with a breadth that is unparalleled. It is from a trusted, unbiased source, and it levels the play ing field by providing all of its data to the public free of charge. The survey's effect on counties begins when federal decision makers use ACS data to disburse over $400 billion a year in federal funds. As these funds trickle down into states and local areas, community leaders in turn use ACS data to analyze how the needs of their neighborhoods are evolving, and how to use their resources to meet those needs. Local communities use the in formation provided by the ACS in a seemingly endless variety of ways including comprehensive planning, economic development and research on local issues and conditions. For example, the Greater Houston Partnership a regional economic development organization uses ACS data to answer companies' ques tions about issues such as commuting times and the availability of science and engineering workers. Following Super Storm Sandy in 2012, emergency responders in New Jersey used demo graphic data from the ACS to estimate the volume of traffic in affected areas. Officials from Oklahoma County, Okla. and the United Way used ACS data on poverty, home ownership and the prevalence of disabilities to identify ways to make their county more senior-friendly. These are just a few of the many ways that ACS data are tailored to help guide myriad specific decisions across the country.

Participation in the ACS is a civic duty, and the high quality of ACS data is adirectresultof Americans'widespread participation. It is also mandatory, as an official part of the decennial census program.

In 2011, Canada's version of the ACS became voluntary in response to respondent complaints. Even though it increased the number of households it surveyed, Canada's response rate fell to 69 percent in 2011 from 90 percent in 2006. Our concern with a voluntary survey is based on the effect it would have on the reliability of the data, espe cially for rural and small communities. Canada lost the ability to publish data for many rural counties. To compensate for a similar effect here, it would cost approximately $90 million annually to maintain our current data quality.

At the same time, we must balance this need for quality data with the need to improve the respondent experience. We are exploring whether it's possible to shorten the survey, make it easier to respond and reduce the number of follow-up contacts.

• Can we remove questions by us ing other data sources, including information people have already provided to the government?
• Can we better phrase our questions to reduce concern, especially for those who may be sensitive to providing information?
• Can we ask some questions every other year, or every third year?
• Can we soften the "mandatory" language on the survey envelope without adversely impacting the response rate?

The ACS makes our governments smarter, our businesses more competi tive, and our citizens more informed. At the Census Bureau, we're constantly amazed by the innovative ways in which local areas use ACS data to solve problems and make their communities better. We're proud to provide the most timely, comprehensive and statistically precise data source for those decision-making processes.