Enlarge By Mark Hertzberg, AP Census worker Timothy Culp-Northwood visits homes in June in Racine, Wis. VIDEO: How the government turns 360 million Census pages into the USA's digital portrait. CLICK HERE The 2010 Census will cost $1.6 billion less than had been budgeted, partly because no natural or manmade disaster disrupted the population count, the government is expected to announce this morning. "With proficient management, the cooperation of the American public and a little bit of luck, the Census stayed on track with significant cost savings to taxpayers," Commerce Secretary Gary Locke says. The Commerce Department oversees the Census Bureau. The agency did not have to tap emergency reserves set aside for major disasters — such as hurricanes and earthquakes — and operational problems. That shaved about $800 million off the $14.7 billion the 2010 Census was expected to cost. VIDEO: 10 strange facts about the Census FULL COVERAGE: Census 2010 CENSUS: Moving the count into the future MAP: National Census participation map Another $800 million was saved because the 72% mail-back response of U.S. residents returning their Census forms beat expectations and the agency was able to tap a large pool of unemployed to fill temporary jobs with experienced and educated workers. The 565,000 Census workers hired for the operation worked faster and more efficiently than in previous years, according to the Census Bureau. Locke and Census Director Robert Groves also credit tight management controls and an effective advertising campaign. Locke set up bi-weekly meetings with Census management to review costs and Groves held daily meetings with the operations team. Despite the savings, the cost of the Census is mounting — $13.1 billion vs. $8.2 billion (in today's dollars) in 2000. The rising costs and the $340 million spent on advertising and promotion this year have come under fire. Likely for the 2020 Census as a cost-cutting move: many people logging onto a secured website and filling out the Census form with a few keystrokes instead of pen, paper and a pre-addressed envelope. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, a frequent critic, is not impressed. "The story of the 2010 Census is one of waste and inefficiency," he says. "No matter how you slice it, they didn't save a dime. ... This Census was, dollar for dollar, about 50% more costly than in 2000." Costs rose this year partly because handheld computer devices that were supposed to speed door-to-door data collection were scrapped at the last minute because they didn't work as planned. Census operations are winding down. Workers are double-checking data from about 1 million housing units and will be done in about a month. The Census Bureau is required by law to report the nation's population and the allotment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives for each state by the end of December. From January to April 1, population profiles will be released for every state. They are used to redraw state and local districts. The accuracy of the 2010 Census remains to be seen. It will be more than a year before research reveals whether segments of the population were missed or counted twice. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more