2000 Census

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on how census operations and data accuracy could be affected if the Bureau of the Census were to include a coverage improvement program known as Post Census Local Review (PCLR) in the 2000 census.

GAO noted that: (1) the extent to which a PCLR program would affect other operations already scheduled for the 2000 Census is unclear; (2) although Bureau officials believe that PCLR could affect the completion of the Accuracy and Coverage Evaluation (ACE) as well as other subsequent operations, the results of the 1990 Census suggest that the effect on the quality of the ACE estimates could be minimal; (3) on the basis of the 1990 Census, PCLR could add small numbers of housing units and people to the count if implemented in 2000 and make a small contribution to increased accuracy; (4) the bureau has not studied the effect that PCLR could have on the 2000 Census; (5) in terms of scheduling, there would be no overlaps between PCLR and ACE because Bureau officials said that if the Bureau is required to do PCLR in 2000, it would delay the ACE matching and reconciliation process to accommodate PCLR operations; (6) resolving discrepancies between Bureau and local governments' housing unit counts could delay ACE matching and reconciliation activities by 6 weeks, according to Bureau officials; and (7) although GAO has not comprehensively analyzed the full implications of implementing a PCLR program in 2000, on the basis of GAO's prior work on the 1990 PCLR program, discussions with Bureau officials, and review of the 1990 PCLR program evaluations, PCLR has several potential benefits and problems.