2012 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who authorized the survey?
How is the information used?
Will my government be surveyed?
When will I receive the survey?
When is the survey due?
What if I have no boundary changes to report?
How do I submit my response?
Can a county report for entities within its boundaries?
How do I report a new incorporation?
What is the United State Postal Service (USPS) shipping cost for return packages?
What is the United States Postal Service (USPS) shipping cost for outgoing packages to participant?
What is the FEDEX shipping cost for outgoing and return packages?
What is a Business Reply Mail (BRM) label?
What is the FEDEX Billable Stamp?

Who authorized the survey?

The Boundary and Annexation Survey is authorized by Section 6 of Title 13 of the United States Code Census. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approves the survey materials. The current valid OMB control number is: OMB No. 0607-0151; approval expires on 12-31-2012. The BAS is a voluntary survey.

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How is the information used?

The BAS information is used to provide an appropriate record for reporting the results of the decennial and economic censuses, and annual estimates and surveys such as the Population Estimates Program and the American Community Survey.

In compliance with the Office of Management and Budget, Circular A-16, the BAS supports the spatial data steward responsibilities of the Geo.Data.gov and the National Map by updating the inventory of and boundaries for governmental units.

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Will my government be surveyed?

The Census Bureau surveys all federally recognized American Indian areas, governmental counties (and equivalent areas), incorporated places, and governmental minor civil divisions (MCDs). This survey includes approximately 40,000 entities and is conducted every year to provide the geographic support needed for the American Community Survey. The number of entities included in the BAS in a particular year may vary after 2010 depending on funding and the needs of the Census Bureau in fulfilling the requirements for its censuses and surveys.

As part of our geographic partnership program, the Census Bureau has entered into several agreements with state and county governments. These agreements most commonly modify the list of entitites invited to participate in the survey, where knowledge of local areas identifies only those governments known to have boundary changes. Alaska, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Utah, Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico currently have agreements with the Census Bureau. For a list of county agreements, please email geo.bas@census.gov.

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When will I receive the survey?

BAS packages are typically mailed every year in December. If you have not received a BAS package, please call 1-800-972-5651 to request a BAS package.

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When is the survey due?

All participants should return their responses by March 1st in order to have their updates reflected in next year's data from the American Community Survey and Population Estimates Program.

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What if I have no boundary changes to report?

If your entity does not have any changes to report for this BAS cycle, you may notify the Census Bureau by e-mailing geo.bas@census.gov, phoning 1-800-972-5651, returning the Advance Response Form, or returning the paper No Change Postcard that was included in your BAS package. If you choose to notify the Census Bureau via e-mail, please type “no boundary changes” in the subject heading and provide the following contact information for your Highest Elected Official and, if different, the BAS contact:

• Name
• Title
• Entity Name
• Mailing Address
• Phone and Fax number
• Email Address

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How do I submit my response?

There are various ways to respond to the BAS. The Response Methods page provides further information.

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Can a county report for entities within its boundaries?

The Census Bureau includes counties in the BAS so that you may report any changes to your county boundary, as well as, review the BAS form for the functional status of governments within your county. County reviewers are not required to report boundary changes for the jurisdictions within their county.

If you are interested in reporting changes for place or MCD governments within your county, the Census Bureau also offers consolidation agreements. At the county level, a county government can provide updates for their county boundary, as well as for entities within the county that agree to the consolidation. Counties participating in a consolidation agreement are required to obtain the permission of the entities for which they will report. (If your state has legislation in place requiring governments to report boundary changes to the county, then we ask only that you provide us this documentation.). The Census Bureau will not mail the affected entities a BAS package next year or any subsequent year after an agreement has been completed.

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How do I report a new incorporation?

If you are a newly incorporated place and would like to participate in the BAS, please contact geo.bas@census.gov. In order to participate in the BAS, the Census Bureau will need:

• A copy of the official new incorporation papers, including date of incorporation
• A map indicating the boundaries of the new incorporation
• Contact information for the highest elected official and a contact for the BAS

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What is the United States Postal Service (USPS) shipping cost for return packages?

The Business Reply Mail (BRM) allows a participant to mail the return package back to the original shipper without cost to the participant.  The Census Bureau does not get charged for shipping costs unless the BRM label is used.  The BRM does not include the ability to track the package for return receipt, please check with the USPS for the charges for this service.  Below are the shipping costs charged to the Census Bureau for incoming mail to Jeffersonville, IN using the USPS BRM label.  This rate is given when the recipient from a single address receives packages in quantities over 890 pieces. If you need to ship more then 20 mapsheets to the Census Bureau, you will need to pick-up a mailing tube or box from USPS and attach the BRM label.  The priority mail materials from USPS are free. 

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What is the United States Postal Service (USPS) Shipping cost for outgoing packages to participant?

USPS has a set rate for priority mail commercial based delivery.  The priority mail is delivered one to five days from pick-up.  The pricing is based on pounds and distance from point of origin or zone.  The point of origin is Jeffersonville, IN  47199. The prices below do not include tracking the delivery of the package.  In addition, the shipping cost below does not include the cost of the folding and sorting of the mapsheets for each package by staff.  It is an additional cost for delivery confirmations and return receipt.  To determine your mailing zone, you may go to the Zipcode zone lookup at http://postcalc.usps.gov/Zonecharts/.

Below is an example of outgoing mail using the Priority Mail Commercial Base pricing structure:

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What is the FEDEX Shipping cost for outgoing and return packages?

FEDEX has a set rate for bulk delivery that is based on pounds and the number of days selected for shipping.  Their shipping costs are the same for outgoing mail and return mail.  The FEDEX billable stamp is preprinted for Economy Two Day.  The Census Bureau does not get charged for shipping costs if the billable stamp is not used.  If you do not know a location for a FEDEX drop off, please call 1-800-gofedex.  The FEDEX prices below include tracking location information and a receipt:

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What is a Business Reply Mail (BRM) label?

The BRM is a white label with the return address of the National Processing Center in Jeffersonville, IN so the participant is not charged for shipping costs. The label should be peeled away from the backing and adhered to the package, generic box or tube.

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What is the FEDEX Billable Stamp?

The label has the return address of the National Processing Center in Jeffersonville, IN so the participant is not charged for shipping costs. The gray portion of the billable stamp is the receipt for your records. The white portion should be peeled from the label and adhered to the package or tube.

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Comments? Questions? geo.bas@census.gov