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Show mm mmhm CENSUS UNDERCOUNT NOW CAUSE CELEBRE A preliminary peek at the 1980 census tallies never before offered has disclosed what many big city officials stoutly contend are extensive un-dercounts un-dercounts for their area. The alleged inaccuracies and their extent have embroiled the Census Bureau in a whole series of controversies as well as some litigation, with the promise of still more to come. Week after week the cry of "foul" from various locales is becoming more insistent, more strident. Detroit's landmark suit against the Bureau resulted in a federal district judge there "invalidating" the entire 1980 Census on the ground that it un-dercounted un-dercounted blacks and Hispanic Americans. His decision that Uncle Sam be ordered to adjust the figures upward for those groups throughout the country seems headed for eventual review by the Supreme Court unless the Justice Department chickens out on the unless the Justice Department chickens out on the touchy issue for political reasons. MUCH AT RISK There is, of course, a great deal more at stake in all this than the decennial head count that is demanded by the Constitution of the United States, as is evidenced by the fact that the Detroit suit was supported by dozens of other cities which have large number of minority groups. The basic purpose of the head count is to provide data for revising apportionments ap-portionments for the House of Representatives, but for cities as well as states the census has become important im-portant also as the ultimated determinant deter-minant of how much federal funding each will get for a variety of high-appropriation high-appropriation programs, including revenue sharing, highway assistance, and welfare. Hence, how the undercount is compensated com-pensated for could directly affect and in substantial measure our most populous states, largest cities, and all their inhabitants. It will also be of keen interest to businessmen and investors who will be basing their plans for plant location and expansion, product development and sales, and other vital decisions for the 1980s on the state, regional, and logal breakdown figures that will be issued by the Census - Bureau once its basic state counts become obtainable in revised final form. TYPE OF "FUDGE FACTOR" Even before the Detroit decision, the Census Bureau had been pondering what steps to take to compensate for the undercount. Its general plan now is to await a study by an advistory panel of statisticians on a series of "assumptions" Census Director Vincent Vin-cent Barabba has presented. If the assumptions are accepted, the Bureau would then decide whether to adjust the figures. And if so, how. Under Director Barabb's timetable a decision would not be made until sometime next month, and the Bureau feels any adjustment would be "limited." Some sources suggest that the adjustment ad-justment itself would take up to two years to effect, a time schedule the courts may consider too leisurely. Meanwhile, it is not yet known what further criticism, controversy, or even litigation may arise, or quickly ensue once President Carter has released to the states by the first of January the counts the Census Bureau submits to him. HOW TO OBTAIN SPECIFIC DATA In any event, census counts, revisions, and breakdowns by areas, income size, business and agricultural concentration, and other relevant criteria will be "must" reading for businessmen and investors over the next two or three years. To keep you up to date, the Census Bureau offers at a $19 annual subscription ' rate its quarterly catalog, including regular monthly supplements. Census Catalog lists Bureau publications, data files, special tabulations, and telephone numbers of agency experts on related topics of interest. Order by title from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. |
