As we reported today, the City of Johns Creek is contemplating the creation of a massive downtown in the Technology Park area. The idea is to create a vibrant retail, office and entertainment complex to boost commercial development and broaden the city's tax base.
Johns Creek officials worry their heavy reliance on residential property – nearly 75 percent of the city’s property tax base is residential – could undermine the city’s financial position over time. But the mayor of a nearby city with a similar tax base isn’t worried.
“I’ve heard people say before, `You all aren’t sustainable. You need more commercial (property),’” said Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood. But he doesn’t buy it.
Milton’s tax base is more than 78 percent residential, according to data maintained by the Georgia Department of Revenue. But Lockwood said Milton’s cost of services is relatively low because it has a lot of open land and pricey homes on large lots. The lack of density, he said, means fewer people, lowering the cost of providing police, fire and other services.
Milton is building a new city hall in the Crabapple community that will open in 2017.Otherwise, Lockwood said, residents like the rural north Fulton County enclave just the way it is.
“The majority of our property is residential,” he said. “We’re fine with that.”
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