E9-4063. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.

Title: Quarterly Survey of State and Local Government Tax Revenues.

Form Number(s): F-71, F-72, F-73.

OMB Control Number: 0607-0112.

Type of Request: Regular submission.

Burden Hours: 7,159.

Number of Respondents: 7,108.

Average Hours per Response: 15 minutes.

Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau requests an extension of the current expiration date of the Quarterly Survey of State and Local Government Tax Revenues to ensure accurate collection of information about state and local government tax collections. These tax collections, amounting to nearly $1.3 trillion annually, constitute approximately 47 percent of all governmental revenues. Quarterly measurement of, and reporting on, these massive fund flows provides valuable insight into trends in the national economy and that of individual states. Information collected on the type and quantity of taxes collected gives comparative data on how the various levels of government fund their public sector obligations.

The Census Bureau uses the three forms covered by this statement to collect state and local government tax data for this long established data series. The Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Federal Reserve Board, the Department of Treasury, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and others rely on these data to provide the most current information on the financial status of state and local governments. These data are included in the quarterly estimates of National Income and Product Accounts developed by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development has used the property tax data as one of nine cost indicators for developing Section 8 rent adjustments. Legislators, policy makers, administrators, analysts, economists, and researchers use these data to monitor trends in public sector revenues. Journalists, teachers, and students use these data as well.

Tax collection data are used to measure economic activity for the Nation as a whole, as well as for comparison among the various states. These data are also useful in comparing the mix of taxes employed by individual states, and in determining the revenue raising capacity of different types of taxes in different state-areas.

Affected Public: State, local or tribal government.

Frequency: Quarterly.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Section 182.

OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, [phone].

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, [phone], Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax [phone]) or e-mail ([e-mail]).

Dated: February 20, 2009.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.