Statistical Policy for State and Local Governments

This report is the product of the Task Force on State and Local Government Statistics formed by the ASA Committee on Government Statistics.The Task Force began its work in March 1985 because of a growing concern among ASA members that state and local governments were undertaking many statistical programs and functions of which the ASA had little knowledge and for which it had little role in supporting, and because of the potential and real impacts of federal policy changes and budget reductions on state statistical programs.The report examines the need for state and local government statistical policy, reviews current practice, summarizes elements of a statistical policy, proposes alternative models for organizing the statistical policy function, and makes recommendations for further action.