City Council advances makerspace ► PAGE 3 A u g u s t 2 1 , 2 0 2 5 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 9 , N o . 3 4
New orchestra chief ready with season aimed at community By JON WILCOX | jon@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Music Director Henry Cheng wants to do more. Cheng, who was selected in May to lead the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra, said he often thinks of the words of a fellow conductor. “He said, ‘Henry, there are two types of conductors in this world, one that wakes up in the morning and thinks that they're the world's gift to music, never doubting, never questioning,’” Cheng said. “The other type of conductor is one that wakes up every single morning and asks himself, ‘Have I done enough?’” Cheng told that story and others at an Aug. 13 meeting held by the Rotary Club of Johns Creek-North Fulton. The music director, who is also an accomplished conductor and composer, said he worked to apply that mentality in the orchestra’s next season, which is titled “Imagine: Your Playlist.”
See CHENG, Page 20 At left, Music Director Henry Cheng speaks to members of the Rotary Club of Johns Creek-North Fulton during an Aug. 13 meeting.
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Johns Creek boasts lowest tax rate in city’s history By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — This year, Johns Creek property owners will pay the lowest property rate in the city’s history. Approved July 28, the rate of 3.492 mills to fund operations also is the lowest among Fulton County cities.
The levy was set at the rollback rate, which allows the city to take in as much property tax revenue as it did last year, and follows a trend of reduced taxes that began in 2018. City officials said the trend is the result of efficient governance, a philosophy of spending within their means, a thriving community and smart investment.
Councilman Chris Coughlin said the Council has a responsibility to practice fiscal discipline with public funds. “I just want you to have a safe community with some amenities, but I want you to spend your dollars how you want to, not how I want to,” Coughlin said. Before the July 28 vote, Coughlin, who is a data scientist, introduced a measure
for an even lower tax of 3.485 mills, saying the city could afford it because the rollback rate fails to consider new growth. “We have a beautiful problem in Johns Creek,” Coughlin said. “We run a surplus of multi millions of dollars every year … I think that should be returned to you.”
See RATE, Page 21
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