BAS_SupportingStatement_Part_B_090924

SUPPORTING STATEMENT B

U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S. Census Bureau

Boundary and Annexation Survey

OMB Control No. 0607-0151

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods

1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities (e.g., establishments, State and local government units, households, or persons) in the universe covered by the collection and in the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form for the universe as a whole and for each of the strata in the proposed sample. Indicate expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection had been conducted previously, include the actual response rate achieved during the last collection.

The Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) does not use sampling or any statistical methods to determine the universe of respondents.

The potential respondent universe is one representative from each of the 40,000 eligible governments, which includes tribal, state, and general-purpose local governments. The table below shows the collection period response rates for BAS over the last three years.

Table 1: BAS Collection Period Response Rates

BAS Year	Total Number of Responses	Response Rate
2024*	33,222	85.10%
2023	33,258	85.13%
2022	33,371	85.36%

*The 2024 BAS information is current as of July 15, 2024, while the other two years of information were captured as of September 30, 2023, and September 30, 2022, respectively.

2. Describe the procedures for the collection of information including:

• Statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection,

• Estimation procedure,

• Degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification,

• Unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures, and

• Any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to reduce burden.

Collection of information for BAS does not include any of the procedures listed above.

BAS has been conducted on an annual basis and is planned to continue for the foreseeable future. The only change to the program includes broadening the usage of the Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS) by allowing respondents to use an online version, i.e., GUPS Web. The core processes for both versions are identical. They offer the same tools and prepare the same output for submission. The difference is the way a respondent accesses GUPS by either downloading and installing GUPS locally (GUPS Standalone) or accessing an online version using its web-based login (GUPS Web). Additionally, the respondent burden will not change no matter how the user accesses GUPS.

3. Describe methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non-response. The accuracy and reliability of information collected must be shown to be adequate for intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be provided for any collection that will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.

Methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non-response:

To maximize response rate, BAS uses several outreach strategies to encourage eligible governments to participate in the survey. The Census Bureau initially notifies eligible governments about BAS through email. The email includes program information and directs them to respond electronically whether there are updates to provide for the legal boundary, census designated place(s), linear feature(s), or contact(s). Eligible governments without an email on file with the Census Bureau are contacted by phone, where they are asked to provide a response. Eligible governments that do not respond, or those that indicate that they have updates to provide but have not submitted their updates are contacted during nonresponse follow-up by email. The email reminds eligible governments to respond electronically if they have updates to report. Nonresponse follow-up emails are sent each year in February, March, and April.

The Census Bureau provides multiple submission methods to partners that have updates to provide. This includes the BAS Partnership Toolbox, GUPS (GUPS Standalone and GUPS Web), and paper maps.

Additional outreach includes up to three annual webinars hosted by the Census Bureau that discuss the purpose of BAS and demonstrate the methods of response. These webinars serve as an open forum for participants to ask questions and to encourage response.

The Census Bureau actively encourages participation throughout the BAS collection process and is readily available to assist eligible governments with procedural and technical questions.

Practical utility for the collection:

BAS is a vital annual survey that provides eligible governments an opportunity, under Title 13, U.S.C. Section 6, to review the Census Bureau’s legal boundary data to ensure the Census Bureau has the correct boundary, name, and status information and make necessary updates. BAS also allows for the review and update of census designated place (CDP) boundaries and linear features. It fulfills the agency’s responsibility as part of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, for which the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-16 designates the Census Bureau as the lead federal agency for maintaining national data about legal government boundaries, as well as statistical and administrative boundaries. It also supports the geospatial data steward responsibilities of the Geospatial Data Act, the Evidence Act, OMB E-Gov, the Federal Geographic Data Committee, Data.gov, GeoPlatform.gov, the National Map, the Geographic Names Information System, and the Geospatial One-Stop.

The Census Bureau uses the boundaries collected during BAS to tabulate data for various censuses and surveys including the decennial census and American Community Survey (ACS) as well as the Population Estimates Program (PEP). It also uses the boundaries collected through BAS to support other programs such as the Redistricting Data Program, the Economic Census, the Geographically Updated Population Certification Program, and the Special Census program.

Other federal programs also rely on accurate boundaries collected through BAS. The Department of Housing and Urban Development uses boundaries to determine jurisdictional eligibility for various grant programs, such as the Community Development Block Grant program. In addition, the Department of Agriculture uses boundaries to determine eligibility for various rural housing and economic development programs.

4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Testing is encouraged as an effective means of refining collections of information to minimize burden and improve utility. Tests must be approved if they call for answers to identical questions from 10 or more respondents. A proposed test or set of tests may be submitted for approval separately or in combination with the main collection of information.

BAS does not conduct a test phase or test sampling.

5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on statistical aspects of the design and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.

The collection of information for BAS is conducted and managed by the Census Bureau’s Legal and Administrative Area Boundaries Branch within the Geography Division.

BAS Program Manager: Lauren Ely, <lauren.marie.ely@census.gov>, 301.763.1575.

Branch Chief: Mike Clements, <michael.j.clements@census.gov>, 301.763.9124.

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