Fewer People in State Means Fewer Funds for Steadily Growing Rochester, Rochester Hills

While Michigan's population decreased over the past 10 years, the number of residents in Rochester and Rochester Hills has increased — which can be interpreted as good news and not-so-good news.

Good news that the cities are growing.

Not so good that the state's decrease in population could spur a dip in funding for programs that trickle down to cities through the state.

According to U.S. Census figures released Tuesday, the country's population increased 9.7 percent over the past decade. In Michigan, the overall population decreased by 0.6 percent – only Puerto Rico experienced a bigger drop.

That decrease will result in Michigan losing one U.S. House seat in the next election in 2012. It will also likely result in decreased revenue-sharing for cities — even if individual cities have made population gains, which, according to is the case in Rochester and Rochester Hills.

"Even though Rochester has increased in population, if the state has less money, then it will affect everything we do," said Jaymes Vettraino, manager.

The American Community Survey, which works like the census in surveying people, incomes and home sales on an annual basis, showed the number of residents in Rochester increased slightly, from 10,467 people in 2000 to 11,017 people in 2009.

In Rochester Hills, there are 69,203 people – up from 68,825 in 2000.

Precise population data for cities is to be released by the U.S. Census Bureau beginning in February.

Vettraino said he is eager to receive that information. "That's what means a lot to us, as far as how we get the funding," he said.

That funding includes Community Development Block Grants for cities, which fund infrastructure programs.

Population numbers also control how many liquor licenses a city can have. "In the overall scheme of things, that one may not seem important, but it is a big economic development incentive," Vettraino said.

It's also an incentive tied directly to one possible reason behind the city's population growth: its vibrant downtown.

"We have an attractive community with a high quality of life," Vettraino said.

In Rochester Hills, Mayor Bryan Barnett echoed those sentiments.

"It's a sad story from the state perspective," Barnett said. "I find it very interesting that the state is going downward. And when a community is growing upward, it's very dramatic. I think it speaks to the quality of life here and to the natural amenities and the universities and the jobs we have created."