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CENSUS REPORT - WHAT DOES
16.5% GROWTH MEAN?
April 2011
The census numbers are now in. In the
last 10 years, Novi’s population has increased 16.5%. We are
currently at a population of 55,224 people.
What do these numbers mean? What kind
of growth have we experienced? The answer is we have experienced
long term growth and diversity in both our population and our tax
base. The harsh lesson being learned by cities in the Midwest in the
20th Century is that any city dependent upon one type of industry,
i.e. manufacturing, will at some point suffer. Nothing is forever.
Certainly, nothing in the business world anyway. Those who stand
still will eventually be passed by.
The second lesson we learned from the
end of the 20th Century is the importance of globalization to our
continued economic survival. The world has flattened. Outsourcing to
Asia, India and Mexico is a current reality. Outsourcing to all
parts of the world is the future.
In the next 10 years, how will Novi
be positioned? Are we capable of being the location for North
American headquarters for global companies? Can we attract business
investments from Asia, India, Central and South America as well as
Europe? That depends on the environment we create in Novi. That
depends on the cultural opportunities and educational system
available in Novi as well as the willingness and ability to not only
be a potential home to a global population but more importantly to
be a welcoming environment to the world. If people and businesses
can afford to locate anywhere they will ultimately locate where they
feel welcome and I am not talking about a plastic smile and a tax
abatement. I’m talking about a genuine welcome. An invitation to be
part of the future of this community.
How have we done in this regard?
Let’s look at the census numbers. Okay, so we grew in population by
16.5%. Who are they? In the last 10 years our Asian population has
almost doubled. Our Hispanic population has likewise grown by 67%.
Our African American population has quadrupled. Novi’s total
population is now 15.9% Asian, 8.1% African American and 3%
Hispanic. One of every four residents is a non-Caucasian. That is
clearly diversity in growth.
In 2010 alone Novi saw $23,000,000
added to its tax base. Again, comprised of what? 51% commercial and
industrial, 49% residential. That is balanced tax base growth evenly
split between residential and non-residential growth. That means
businesses are moving to Novi and people are moving to Novi.
Novi is currently the North American
home to businesses from Japan, Mexico, Korea, India, Germany, Canada
and the US of A. Of the top 10 Novi taxpayers in the year 2000, all
10 are still here and still paying taxes. However, four have been
knocked out of the top 10 by new businesses. Therefore, big business
is moving to Novi.
Here are some other numbers - in the
last 10 years our Part A crimes (severe crimes) have decreased 33%
and our Part B crimes have decreased 49%! All the while our tax
millage rate of 10.5416 has remained the same for the last 12 years!
Standard & Poors has given Novi a bond rating that is given to only
the top 5% of all municipalities nationwide. Our city auditors
reported last fall, “This is the best opinion a municipality can
receive.” Moreover, the University of Michigan Center for Innovative
Research commented that, “The City of Novi is part of an elite group
of Michigan communities helping understand and share efforts that
foster entrepreneurship and encourage business development.”
It is these kinds of statistics that
tell the world “Novi Welcomes You.” It is a handshake with a
heartbeat. It is balanced, diverse, fiscally responsible, long term
growth. We are positioning our community for the 21st Century global
marketplace. It is so much more than simply growing by 16.5%.
Mayor David B. Landry, City of
Novi
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