Audit finds US census preparations wasted millions

Census preparations wasted millions as temps collected checks for excessive travel, training

Associated Press , Tuesday February 16, 2010, 9:17 am EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- 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.

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UPI | Census: Education works make more than half of 16.7 million state and local government employees last year

WASHINGTON, Del., Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Education workers made up more than half of the United States' 16.7 million state and local government employees last year, Census figures indicate.

New data released Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau shows there were 8.9 million teachers and other education workers on state and local government payrolls in 2008, a 1.4 percent increase in employment from 2007.

The Census figures indicated local governments -- including counties, cities, townships, special districts and school districts -- accounted for 12.3 million full-time equivalent employees in 2008, compared with 4.4 million full-time equivalents employed by state governments.

"These numbers are useful to a host of data users, including federal agencies, educational and research organizations, and the general public," said Lisa Blumerman, division chief of the Census Bureau's Governments Division. "Professional and academic analysts use the information for trend analysis, to compare public and private sector employment and payrolls in the U.S."

After education, the largest numbers of state and local government employees were found in hospitals (998,000), police protection (952,000) and corrections (748,000), Census officials said.

AP | Census worker hanged with 'fed' on body

By DEVLIN BARRETT and JEFFREY McMURRAY (AP) – 2 hours ago

WASHINGTON — The FBI is investigating the hanging death of a U.S. Census worker near a Kentucky cemetery, and a law enforcement official told The Associated Press the word 'fed" was scrawled on the dead man's chest.

The body of Bill Sparkman, a 51-year-old part-time Census field worker and occasional teacher, was found Sept. 12 in a remote patch of the Daniel Boone National Forest in rural southeast Kentucky. The Census has suspended door-to-door interviews in rural Clay County, where the body was found, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Investigators are still trying to determine whether the death was a killing or a suicide, and if a killing, whether the motive was related to his government job or to anti-government sentiment.

Investigators have said little about the case. The law enforcement official, who was not authorized to discuss the case and requested anonymity, said Wednesday the man was found hanging from a tree and the word "fed" was written on the dead man's chest. The official did not say what type of instrument was used to write the word.

FBI spokesman David Beyer said the bureau is helping state police with the case.

"Our job is to determine if there was foul play involved — and that's part of the investigation — and if there was foul play involved, whether that is related to his employment as a census worker," said Beyer.

Beyer declined to confirm or discuss any details about the crime scene.

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