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February 16, 2010
U.S. Census Wastes Millions before the Counting Begins
Posted by The MaryHunter at February 16, 2010 9:50 AM
If you thought that the $2.5 million Super Bowl ad train wreck was the worst of the U.S. Census wastage, you would be sorely mistaken.
The Census Bureau wasted millions of dollars in preparation for its 2010 population count, including thousands of temporary employees who picked up $300 checks without performing work and others who overbilled for travel costs.
Federal investigators caution the excessive charges could multiply once the $15 billion headcount begins in earnest next month unless the agency imposes tighter spending controls, according to excerpts of a forthcoming audit obtained by The Associated Press.
The audit focussed on the Census Bureau's address-canvassing operation last fall, which had a 25% cost overrun to the tune of $88 million. The waste found by investigators included:
--More than 10,000 census employees were paid over $300 apiece to attend training for the massive address-canvassing effort, but they quit or were otherwise let go before they could perform any work. Cost: $3 million.
--Another 5,000 employees collected $300 for the same training, and then worked a single day or less. Cost $1.5 million.
--Twenty-three temporary census employees were paid for car mileage costs at 55 cents a mile, even though the number of miles they reported driving per hour exceeded the total number of hours they actually worked.
--Another 581 employees who spent the majority of their time driving instead of conducting field work also received full mileage reimbursements, which investigators called questionable.
On a positive note, the "investigators" loved the Census Bureau's effort at public advertising, however -- to the tune of $133 million. For my part, much of the advertising I've encountered has been focused on encouraging minorities to stand up and be counted. Radio ads with heavily accented latinos, and even bilingual spots, were airing in the D.C.-Baltimore area and I'm sure in numerous other radio markets with high concentrations of latino residents who are most certainly legal, tax-paying U.S. citizens.
It's so good to see our tax dollars once again put to good redistributive use.
