MARQUETTE, MI— The city of Marquette could get more in state revenue sharing if a population count review is accepted.
The U.S. Census Bureau has created a program to let local governments request a review, because group quarters may have been undercounted during the pandemic.
College students are normally counted at their schools, even though they may have been elsewhere in 2020.
At a meeting of the City Commission Monday night, City Attorney Suzanne Larsen said Marquette’s population count was too low in the last census. She said the discrepancy was due to an undercount at NMU.
“It became pretty apparent pretty quickly that it was all in census tract 5, which is the dormitories for NMU. By looking at the information from the 2010 census it became pretty apparent that’s what that was.”
Marquette’s population count could increase by 1,000 if the review is accepted. That may translate into another $80,000 in revenue sharing.
The City Commission voted unanimously to file the review with the Census Bureau. Larsen said once it’s submitted, it’s just “wait and see.”
“So, the goal would be that if this is approved, there’s a matrix that’s been completed on their form. We have some documentation from NMU that we would submit with it, and the goal would be to submit it and hope that they correct it.”
