NACo urges adequate FY 2027 Census Bureau funding to support the 2030 Census
Key Takeaways
On June 1, NACo sent a letter to Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee leadership urging Congress to provide full funding for the Census Bureau in FY 2027.
Why This Matters to Counties
Decennial census counts determine the allocation of significant federal formula funding that flows to counties for Medicaid, Title I education, the Community Development Block Grant, public housing, Head Start and highway and water infrastructure programs. An inaccurate count directly reduces what counties receive from these programs for a full decade.
What’s in the Bill
FY 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act (H.R. 8845) provides $1.490 billion for the Census Bureau, equal to the FY 2026 enacted level and approximately $541 million below the administration’s FY 2027 request of $2.031 billion. The Periodic Censuses and Programs account, which funds decennial preparation, increases by only $30 million. In nominal terms this is nearly identical to what Congress provided at the equivalent point in the 2020 Census life cycle, but when adjusted for inflation it represents a significant reduction in real purchasing power.
What Counties Are Asking
NACo urges Congress to fully fund the Census Bureau in FY 2027, consistent with the administration’s budget request. Adequate funding is necessary to support decennial preparation activities, sustain the American Community Survey (ACS), ensure adequate resources for LUCA, prepare for the 2028 Dress Rehearsal, finalize core operational and IT plans and conduct other critical planning activities.
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