The 2010 Census is in trouble all ready – and they haven’t even started yet. The following excerpts are from an article in the March 5, 2009 edition of nextgov.com.
The Census Bureau remains behind schedule for the 2010 census and the delays are putting the accuracy of the count at risk, officials from the Government Accountability Office said on Thursday.
“There are two great risks: time is running out and the lack of testing of key operations,” said Robert Goldenkoff, director of strategic issues for GAO, before the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and National Archives. “There’s no time for missteps, no slack in the schedule. If glitches emerge, there’s not a whole lot of time to figure out the workaround.”
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Dave Powner, director of information technology management issues at GAO, said the census would be completed on time regardless of circumstances, but the real risks involve its accuracy and cost [$15 billion?].
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Powner also said the bureau lacked the IT expertise necessary to ensure a smooth 2010 count…
GAO’s Goldenkoff also said the lack of a full dress rehearsal for the 2010 census means the bureau will not have a comprehensive picture of how its systems and procedures will function once the count officially gets under way.
“In some respects, the Census Bureau is flying blind,” he said.
Now – that last line should give all of us a feeling of confidence…