City of Northville May Dispute Census Data

The eagerly-anticipated 2010 census report showed a downward population estimate for the city of , which officials more or less expected.

But there was another number that has officials at city hall balking – the one that says there are 86 fewer residences on the Wayne County side of the city than there was during the 2000 count.

“We’re not talking about foreclosed homes where no one is living in them; we know those are around,” said City Manager Patrick Sullivan. “We’re talking about homes and buildings that no longer exist, and that number seems too high.”

So, officials will begin an investigation to determine whether the data is correct by verifying the data themselves. They'll cross-reference the data with property tax rolls, postal data and other sources. Though it’s still too soon to determine the veracity of the numbers in the census, Sullivan admits that there could be an appeal coming down the pike.

“We also found it strange that we lost more residences on the Wayne County side than the Oakland side,” he said. “”But there have been situations where a building that had two residence was converted to one – those are the things we have to look at.”

In 2000, Northville had 2,801 residences, 1,477 of which were in Wayne County, according to the census. In 2010, the city logged in 1,391 in the same area.

When Sullivan did the math, he determined that the report indicated a loss of at 77 structures, but it doesn’t seem to make sense in a community as small as Northville, he said.

On the up side, he determined that the report counted 52 additional residences on the Oakland County side from 2000 to 2010.

“We approved a 36-unit apartment complex in 2003, and there have been new homes in subdivisions on the Oakland side, so those number make sense,” he said.

From 2000 to 2010, the population in the city dipped from 6,459 in 2000 to 5,970 in 2010.

Mayor Chris Johnson said he thinks the data is worth a second look from the city.

“That’s [the data for the Wayne County side] a big drop for a community our size,” he said. “It’s possible that’s the numbers are correct, but it seems like too much."

Census numbers factor into several resources that communities receive from both the federal government and the State of Michigan. State-shared revenue – which is the topic of debate as municipalities endure a cash crisis in the current economic climate – is determined by many factors, including census counts. Also, the city’s share of gas taxes, which are used for roads, is also determined in part by using census data.

Sullivan said any losses the city would have as a result of losing residences would be minimal, and offset by the fact that the city should be eligible to receive more state-shared revenue because it shares several services with other communities.

“There may be additional programs down the road that are tied to census data, and we want to know that the right numbers are out there,” he said.

Unlike the city, Northville Township Manager Chip Snider said he was pleased with the census data in his community, which showed an uptick in the number of residents.

“There’s no plan to appeal any aspect of the data,” he said.

To file an appeal, local governments must submit supporting documentation such as address lists, maps and other information to the Census Bureau's Count Question Resolution office. It then reviews the documentation and makes a decision regarding revisions.