The federal Office of Management and Budget says it’s time to re-think how population areas are classified for statistical purposes, but many fear that changing the definition of what constitutes a “Metropolitan Area” will hurt the status of 144 cities nationwide, Sheboygan among them.
The OMB has stated that the 70-some-year-old system of classifying counties as either “metropolitan” or “micropolitan” areas is for statistical purposes only and isn’t to be used for consideration of federal program funding formulas. The change would raise the qualifying “core population”, that of the urban area where most of the county’s population is located, from 50,000 to 100,000, thus re-classifying Sheboygan, as well as Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Wausau-Weston and Janesville, as “Micropolitan”. If approved, many believe it could be the first step down a slippery slope of stiffer competition for federal funds, as well as reducing the appeal of areas hoping to attract business.
The proposal is only that at this point while a 60-day comment phase concludes on Saturday, March 20th.
Comments