Detroit fights census figures
City could lose $174M under lower count; Bing challenges laws

Darren A. Nichols / The Detroit News

Detroit — The city stands to lose $174 million because its population has plummeted below 750,000 residents.

That's the threshold to qualify for federal funding and in 25 state laws that give special powers to cities of that size. Mayor Dave Bing is working with legislators to change the laws and challenging census figures showing the population fell 25 percent to 713,777 since 2000.

If the numbers and laws don't change, the city could lose $15 million in revenue sharing; $109 million in income taxes and $50 million from 5 percent utility taxes that benefit the Detroit Police Department, Irv Corley, the City Council's chief fiscal analyst, told the panel Friday.

But council members and Bing hope for a successful challenge — even if the population count will remain the same for purposes of congressional redistricting. The city still can seek adjustments to qualify for federal and state money.