Staff is involved with assisting member governments with various programs of the U.S. Census Bureau. The federal government allocates more than $675 billion in federal funds annually for health, welfare, infrastructure, education, and other federal programs and services. Maintaining correct information by working with the following programs helps ensure that the Census Bureau assigns the appropriate housing and population counts to each government so that governments receive funds appropriately and have the best data available for decision-making.
Boundary and Annexation Survey
The Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) is conducted annually to collect information about selected legally defined geographic areas. The BAS is used to update information about the legal boundaries and names of all governments. The State of Iowa has a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau to submit annexation and other boundary information to the U.S. Census Bureau on behalf of local governments. Bi-State assists other member governments in responding to the BAS by request. BAS activity is conducted on the following annual schedule:
| January 1 | Boundary updates must be legally in effect on or before this date to be reported in the current survey year. |
| March 1 | First BAS deadline - Boundary updates returned by this date will be reflected in the American Community Survey and Population Estimates Program data, and in next year's BAS materials. |
| May 31 | Final BAS deadline - Boundary updates returned by this date will be reflected in next year's BAS materials. |
Decennial Census
The Decennial Census is a Constitutionally-mandated count of residents of the United States and U.S. territories conducted every ten years. The primary purposes of the Decennial Census are to determine apportionment counts and provide redistricting data for Congressional representation. Decennial Census results also determine how funding is allocated to communities and informs decision makers about how communities are changing. The 2020 Census was the first time that all households were invited to respond online. Information regarding the 2020 Census can be found here, and information about planning for the 2030 Census can be found here.
Bi-State's role in past Decennial Censuses has been to provide information regarding the Decennial Census, act as an intermediary contact between the U.S. Census Bureau, local governments, and other organizations and encourage participation and cooperative coordination for a complete count.
Count Question Resolution Operation
The Count Question Resolution (CQR) operation provides an opportunity for governmental units to request that the Census Bureau review their boundaries and/or housing counts by block to correct geographical errors. CQR only reviews data that was collected and processed during the census. It cannot collect new data or conduct a recount or review of group quarters population counts.
The deadline for case submissions associated with the 2020 Decennial Census from eligible governmental units is June 30, 2023. Bi-State assists member governments with the CQR by request.
Special Census Program
The Special Census Program allows local officials to request a full or partial special census if they believe their community's population size or demographic composition changed considerably after the latest Decennial Census (2020). It cannot review or recount Decennial Census results. Please note that the governmental unit requesting the special census assumes full responsibility for the cost of the count. Bi-State assists member governments in requesting special census by request. The first step in requesting a special census is to submit information for the Census Bureau to provide a cost estimate.
The Special Census Program began accepting requests for cost estimates from governmental units starting on March 30, 2023, and will continue to accept requests through May 2027. Data collection will start no sooner than January 2024 and will conclude in September 2028, ahead of the 2030 Census.