In a letter to the U.S. Census Bureau, Mayor Thomas M. Menino is challenging the census bureau’s population estimate for the fourth year in a row, claiming that the bureau has undercounted Boston’s population by more than 21,000 people.
The bureau recently issued the city’s population estimate as of July 1, 2008 of 609,023. However, Menino believes the city’s population estimate should be 630,384.
"The implications of the census numbers are enormous," Menino said. "This is the fourth year in a row that I have fought to find the truth in the data because population counts directly affect our levels of federal funding and private investment."
Menino, referring to the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s estimate, said each person missed in the census translates into a loss of $1,230 in funding.
Menino alleges the census bureau has failed to adequately reflect the city’s proportion of Suffolk County, to fully account for all the adaptive reuse housing, and to correct an over count of housing demolitions.
After last year’s successful challenge of the 2007 estimate, the Census Bureau officially increased its population estimate numbers for Boston from 599,351 to 608,352 – the first time the city’s population had been higher than 600,000 since the 1970s, according to Menino’s office.
Still, Menino said the estimate should have been raised to 619,250.
"Providing accurate information and analysis is critical to our economic climate. The current challenge, if successful, could represent up to $26 million in funding for the city," Menino said. "We must continue to fight for accurate census estimates as we lead up to the 2010 census."
The research division of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, which compiles, monitors, and analyzes a wide range of data relevant to the local and regional economies, supports Menino.
"Again, our research staff has provided critical data to challenge the Census Bureau’s estimate," said John F. Palmieri, director of the BRA. "We will continue to track and analyze this data to make sure that Boston’s population continues to be accurately represented."
