2010 Census Still Imperiled by Technical, Other Troubles, GAO Says

The accuracy of the 2010 Census remains threatened by computer problems and untested methods the Census Bureau plans to use for conducting the count, according to testimony yesterday from the Government Accountability Office. The GAO assessment, presented at House and Senate hearings on the progress of census preparations, warns that with census day set for April 1, 2010, the bureau is behind schedule. "With little time remaining, uncertainties surround the bureau's readiness for 2010," according to Robert Goldenkoff, director of strategic issues for the GAO. The census, mandated by the Constitution to be conducted every 10 years, is used to apportion seats in Congress, redraw congressional districts and allocate billions of dollars in federal assistance to state and local governments, making its accuracy critical. The cost of the 2010 Census could reach $15 billion by the time of its completion in 2012, according to testimony yesterday. That would make it the most expensive head count in American history, even adjusted for inflation.