1. Why should I complete this survey?  What is the purpose of this survey?
2. Is this survey mandatory?
3. How do I get taken off your mailing list?
4. Why did I receive this survey?
5. The name of our government is incorrect.  How do I get it changed?
6. Which fiscal year should we report data for?
7. When is the Survey of Local Government Finances due? How do I request a time extension?
8. How do I correct data after I have already submitted the survey?
9. In the past I’ve only sent you my financial statements, will that suffice this year?
10. Is there a fine if I do not complete this survey?
11. Where can I obtain a worksheet for the Survey of Local Government Finances?
12. How do I confirm the Census Bureau received my data?
13. How do I contact a member of the Local Government Finance team?

This survey provides the only source of nationwide, comprehensive information on local government finances. The U.S. Congress, federal agencies, state governments, other local governments, educational and research organizations, and the general public use the results of our data.

For example, the Department of Justice uses our expenditure data to calculate the required pass-through percentages from state to local governments for the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants.

Participation in this important survey is voluntary and there are no penalties for not answering questions.  However, it is very important that we have your cooperation to ensure the quality of our data. This survey is authorized by Title 13, United States Code, Sections 161 and 182.

Your participation is very important to us.  Your government unit was chosen to represent other similar governments in the nation. The survey’s success depends on your voluntary participation. If you decline to participate, finance figures may be underrepresented in the data.

If you received the Survey of Local Government Finances, we have determined your entity is one of the approximately 90,056 local governments in the United States.  Every five years (years ending in ‘2’ and ‘7’) we conduct a census, in which we attempt to collect financial data from all local governments.  For the four years between our censuses, we collect data from a sample of governments in which case some governments are not surveyed.

To have your government name corrected in our database, contact a member of the Local Government Finance Team.

Phone: 1-800-832-2839 (Weekdays 8AM to 5PM ET)

Email: ewd.local.finance@census.gov

A survey year includes each individual government’s fiscal year that ended between July 1 of the previous year and June 30 of the survey year. Therefore, survey year 2023 covers individual government fiscal years that ended from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.

The 2023 survey is due on December 15, 2023.

To request a time extension for completing the survey, please contact a member of the Local Government Finance team.

Phone: 1-800-832-2839 (Weekdays 8AM to 5PM ET)

Email: ewd.local.finance@census.gov

If you have already submitted data for this government or agency and would like to make a correction, please contact a member of the Local Government Finance team.

Phone: 1-800-832-2839 (Weekdays 8AM to 5PM ET)

Email: ewd.local.finance@census.gov

We feel that you are in the best position to accurately report this government or agency’s finances.  We use your financial statements to aid in our review of the data you report.  If you are still unable to complete the form, please send us the annual financial report or financial statements for the fiscal year period requested.

Participation in this important survey is voluntary and there are no penalties for not answering questions.  However, it is very important that we have your cooperation to ensure the quality of our data. 

The U.S. Census Bureau is streamlining operations to conserve taxpayer time and money as we measure our nation’s economy through surveys such as the Survey of Local Government Finances. This includes moving from paper-based collection to online-based data collection operations. If you need a worksheet to compile your data before reporting online, you can find one on the Information for Respondents page.

When you submitted your data through the web application, you received a Submission Confirmation screen that you were able to print.  If you did not see this screen, then you have not submitted your data.

If you have submitted your survey, you can contact a member of the Local Government Finance team to verify your submission.

Phone: 1-800-832-2839 (Weekdays 8AM to 5PM ET)

Email: ewd.local.finance@census.gov

You can contact a member of the Local Government Finance team by phone at 1-800-832-2839 weekdays 8AM to 5PM ET, or by email at ewd.local.finance@census.gov.