Home > General > An Example of Goverment Frugality

An Example of Goverment Frugality

March 29th, 2010 Sphere: Related Content

On the census.

Three weeks ago I got a post card in the mail indicating I’d get the census in the mail within the next two weeks.

Two weeks ago I received the census in the mail, telling me I needed to provide the name and number of those living in my house on April 1, but I needed to return the census as soon as possible.  Presumably before April 1. I filled it out and mailed it in two days after receiving it.

One week ago I got another post card in the mail reminding me to fill out the census and mail it in ASAP.  But if I’ve already done it, there is nothing else for me to do.

Thanks.  Got it.

Two out of three mailings weren’t required, one of which wasn’t even applicable to my situation.

So here’s how the math works out.  It costs the average Joe $0.28 to mail a post card in the United States.  There are also just over 110,000,000 households in the United States.

So neglecting any “Government Discounts” on postage, and a varying household rate, that equates to $30.8 million in un-needed postage.

Sure makes that $2.5 million Super Bowl ad seem pretty cheap, doesn’t it?

YouTube Preview Image Sphere: Related Content

Goto comments Leave a comment

General ,

  1. Sean
    March 30th, 2010 at 11:14 | #1
    Reply | Quote

    Ah, but you didn’t finish the story. Those mailings, while seemingly wasted on many that would send in the form anyway, increase the return rate of the mailing:

    Our “multiple contact” mailing strategy was developed to get the highest mail-return rate possible. Our studies have shown that mailing a letter telling you that a form is on the way and, after the forms have been mailed out, sending a postcard reminding you to respond increases the mail-return rate. We have found that the second mailing, or replacement mailing, increases the rate of mail return by about 7 percent to 10 percent and eliminates the need to send census workers to many homes, thereby saving millions of taxpayer dollars.

    By their calculations, each percent increase in mailing saves $80-90 million. I’d call spending around $31 million in order to not spend another $560-900 million a fairly frugal choice. But then, I’m not one of those who sees every dollar spent by the government as a wasted dollar. ;)

  2. Grant
    March 30th, 2010 at 20:34 | #2
    Reply | Quote

    Hey Sean, I appreciate your feedback, but I think you’re missing the point.

    I received the second post card (telling me the bureau hadn’t received my form yet) no more than 7 days after receiving the actual Census form in the mail.

    This is the same form that expects you to state the number and names of the persons living in the household as of April 1. So, a rational person would think that the form would not be due until say, after April 1.

    My point is, why not wait an appropriate amount of time before sending a reminder letter? If the bureau hasn’t received the form after a specific date, ideally sometime in April, then mail out the reminder post card.

    I don’t see every dollar spent by the government as being wasted, Sean, although with a $12 trillion debt load on the country, it’s also hard to see the glass half full, either.

    Thanks for chiming in!

  3. Kelly
    April 8th, 2010 at 10:59 | #3
    Reply | Quote

    I got duplicate forms at two homes – neighbors did too. Some people mistakenly think they need to fill them out again. So how much of this is happening in addition to the other huge time wasting going on by the physical census takers?

  1. March 30th, 2010 at 20:27 | #1
    The Corner Office Blog – An entrepreneurs thoughts on business, personal finance and investing. » Census Mailing Update