Good Question: Should Grosse Pointe Shores Move On Up To The East Side?
By Christy Strawser
CBS Detroit Managing Editor
Grosse Pointe Shores is set to begin a discussion during a 7 p.m. City Council meeting today about shaking the dust of Wayne County off their feet and hitching their wagon over to neighboring Macomb County.
Because a tiny portion of the Shores already rests in Macomb, leaving one county and joining another is the matter of a simple vote.
But should they head for sunnier shores -- or does leaving behind Wayne County send a dark message at a time when metro Detroit can least afford a shakeup?
Grosse Pointe Shores is a tiny city of 3,008 residents with a median household income of $113,882, according to SEMCOG data. It levies taxes to pay for its own manager, city clerk, police chief, public works, and city hall staff.
It's one of the five "Pointes," an upscale enclave in Wayne County. It's most famous as the home of the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, which is tax exempt.
City officials reportedly proposed the idea of joining Macomb County to save tax dollars. Macomb County levies roughly 4.5 mills in county taxes, compared to Wayne County's 7.76 mills, according to the Citizen's Research Council of Michigan.
By the numbers: Macomb County has 840,978 residents, a 5.6 percent poverty rate, and a median household income of $52,102 in the last Census. Wayne County had 1.8 million people in 2010, down from 2 million in 2000. The median household income was $40,776 and 16 percent of residents lived in poverty in the last Census.
How does Macomb County feel about adding a new neighborhood? Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel told WWJ his county isn't actively recruiting, but they would welcome Grosse Pointe Shores with open arms.
"The Grosse Pointes are a beautiful area. They have great education opportunities, they've got some great homes in and around the area, so it's a well-recognized, well-established area within the state," Hackel told WWJ. "Whether it's in Wayne or Macomb County, it's completely up to them, but it would definitely be an asset to either county."
