More Sources Expressing Alarm at the Budgetary Fate of the 2020 Census

The Trump Administration's draft budget blueprint allotted a 10 percent increase in funding for the Census Bureau, but experts say that's not nearly enough funding in context of the decennial census's ten-year cycle.

1 minute read

April 13, 2017, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Baker, California

The "World's Largest Thermometer," located in Baker, California, is also a large metaphor. | Jayson / Flickr

"The Census Bureau was labeled as one of the few 'winners' in the 2018 budget blueprint from President Donald Trump because a proposed 10% hike contrasted with the deep cuts at most civilian agencies," writes Jeffrey Mavis in an article for Science. "But advocates for the government’s largest statistical agency say that view is very misleading, and that Trump’s request for an additional $130 million actually jeopardizes the upcoming decennial census and other important surveys."

Troubling issues arise as the U.S. Census Bureau ramps up for the 2020 decennial census. Compare the budget allocation at this moment in the cycle for the 2010 census: "Former President George W. Bush requested the equivalent of a 34% increase in 2008 over 2006 levels," according to Mavis's source. "That compares with Trump’s request for a 10% increase in 2018 over 2016." Also at risk, according to the sources cited by Mavis in the article, are the other surveys conducted by the Census Bureau, such as the five-year census of the country's economic activity, scheduled for later this year.

This latest round of concern joins the alarms raised in a March article by Dwyer Gunn. The 2020 Census already created a political controversy with its publication, at the end of March, of its proposed subjects.

Monday, March 20, 2017 in Science

Aeriel view of white sheep grazing on green grass between rows of solar panels.

Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US

The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.

April 24, 2024 - Columbus Dispatch

Large blank mall building with only two cars in large parking lot.

Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House

If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.

April 18, 2024 - Central Penn Business Journal

Workers putting down asphalt on road.

U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause

A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.

April 18, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Colorado State Capitol Building

Colorado Bill Would Tie Transportation Funding to TOD

The proposed law would require cities to meet certain housing targets near transit or risk losing access to a key state highway fund.

19 minutes ago - Colorado Public Radio

Texas

Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs

Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.

2 hours ago - FOX 4 News

Divvy Chicago

Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks

New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.

3 hours ago - Streetsblog Chicago

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.