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Johns Creek council hears operations plan for proposed performing arts center; July 1 ballot language deadline noted
Summary
City staff presented a staffing and operations pro forma that anticipates a roughly $254,000 annual operating gap in year one and warned Fulton County needs ballot language by July 1 for a November referendum; council directed staff to return June 9 with additional analysis and community-education plans.
City Manager Kimberly Greer told the Johns Creek City Council the preliminary operations model for a proposed Performing Arts Center estimates first-year expenditures of about $1,640,000 and revenues of $1,330,000, leaving an operating shortfall of roughly $254,000 that would need to be addressed by an operating endowment, naming rights, grants or a city contribution. "The preliminary pro forma anticipates year 1 expenditures of roughly 1,640,000 and revenues of 1,330,000, which would require some combination of an operating endowment, naming rights, grants, or other investment from the city totaling approximately 254,000," Greer said.
Greer also flagged a scheduling constraint: Fulton County’s Board of Elections told city staff they need the ballot question language by July 1 for the measure to appear on a November ballot. Council members split on timing and detail but generally agreed staff should return with more refined financial and outreach materials. "So absent further direction, that will be our focus for the June work session," Greer said. Several council members said they support moving toward a November referendum if outreach and financing options proceed in parallel. "I think it's time to have the residents of the city weigh in on their position on this," one council member said.
Council asked staff to refine revenue assumptions (including rental-rate studies), provide clearer treatment of debt-service alternatives and contingency allowances, and outline an education plan for voters. Staff said the next work session on June 9 would include analysis of financing mechanisms such as general obligation bonds, lease-purchase options and potential P3 (public-private partnership) or tax-increment tools; staff also committed to compiling examples and outreach plans used successfully by peer cities. The city did not take a formal vote during the work session and instead directed staff to prepare materials and draft ballot language consistent with the July 1 county deadline.
