The Bureau announced that it would return at least $1.6 billion to the treasury, or 22 percent of its 2010 budget to conduct the once-a-decade population count. The savings came from an untapped contingency budget set aside for a major natural disaster or other operational failing and because the mail back rate of Census forms exceeded expectations.
“After a difficult lead up to the 2010 Census, the Bureau should be commended for returning $1.6 billion to American taxpayers. Secretary Locke and Director Groves deserve credit for their forward-looking leadership that has saved this money. A little bit of luck, hard work by census employees and the cooperation of people who mailed back their forms means this massive undertaking has come in under budget, a pleasant surprise.”
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