Johns Creek市府修建表演艺术中心可行吗？

段颖哲

Is it feasible for the City of Johns Creek to build a performing arts center?

        2025年4月14日下午五点，包括笔者在内的二十多位Johns Creek市的市民，旁听了市议会的工作会议。当天的一项重要议题是讨论是政府修建表演艺术中心（Performing Arts Center, PAC）。据调查，该项目建设资金预计为$7100万。
       At 5 pm on April 14, 2025, more than 20 Johns Creek residents, including the author, attended the City Council's work session. An important topic of the agenda was to build a performing arts center (PAC). According to the City, the project is expected to cost $71 million.

       表演艺术中心听起来高大上，能够丰富文化生活，谁听了都心生欢喜。然而笔者认为，这个项目是否要付诸实施，需要从多方面考虑。
       A performing arts center sounds marvelous and can be an enrichment to the local culture, and everyone is happy to hear about it. However, I think that whether this project should be implemented needs to be considered from many aspects.

       首先，市政府的职能是什么？一是保障市民安全和法治，所以需要建立警察局、市级法院、消防部门，并且制定市级的各项法规。二是为当地民众提供基础设施和制定当地土地使用规划、批准建设项目等，例如修建和维护道路、公园等。三是做好市政府本身的日常运营。表演艺术中心显然不属于“基础设施”，而是一种奢侈的梦想，something nice to have。
       First, what are the functions of a municipal government? First, it is to ensure the safety of citizens and the rule of law, so it is necessary to establish a police station, a municipal court, a fire department, and formulate various municipal laws. Second, it is to provide infrastructure for local people and formulate local land use plans, approve construction projects, such as building and maintaining roads and parks. Third, it is to do a good job in the daily operation of the municipal government itself. The performing arts center is obviously not "infrastructure", but a luxury dream, something nice to have.

       这就要考虑第二个问题：实现这个奢侈的梦想，Johns Creek 的纳税居民会有什么样的额外负担。截止到2024年，本市有28,753户居民，人口为81,167，平均每户2.82人。资金来源可以包括专项拨款、个人捐赠等。假设专项拨款占建设资金的95%，即$6745万，以债券（bond 形式）发行；当然这里还没有计算债券的利息支出。而且建设中原材料是不是估价不足，有没有额外开支还是未知。债券的回收来自于房产税。这样算下来平均每户Johns Creek 居民要至少承担$2345的额外税务。
       This brings us to the second question: What kind of additional burden will the taxpaying residents of Johns Creek have to realize this extravagant dream? As of 2024, the city has 28,753 households and a population of 81,167, with an average of 2.82 people per household. Funding sources can include special grants, personal donations, etc. Assume that special grants account for 95% of the construction funds, or $67.45 million, issued in the form of bonds; of course, the interest expenses of the bonds have not been calculated here. In addition, it is still unknown whether the raw materials during construction are undervalued and whether there are additional expenses. The recovery of bonds comes from property taxes. In this way, the average Johns Creek resident will bear at least $2,345 in additional taxes.

        第三个问题是建好以后的长期经营问题。需要考虑场地使用率、人员、经营、水电、设备维修和更新等，是否可以达到收支平衡。有热心人士估算，维护费用至少每年$200万。如果无法达到收支平衡，那么对于纳税人又是一笔潜在的、持续的税务负担。
        The third issue is the long-term operation after the construction. It is necessary to consider the utilization rate of the facility, compensation of the staff, daily operation, utilities such as water and electricity, equipment maintenance and update, etc., whether it can achieve a balance between income and expenditure. Someone has estimated that the maintenance cost is at least $2 million per year. If it cannot achieve a balance between income and expenditure, it will be a potential and continuous tax burden for taxpayers.

        笔者可以想到的另外一个重要因素是地理位置。Johns Creek 离主要高速路距离都不近，PAC的坐标有没有吸引力也很难说。另外一旦有活动，会不会造成交通拥堵呢？
       Another important factor that I can think of is the location. Johns Creek is not close to major highways, so it is hard to say whether PAC's location is attractive. In addition, once there is an event, will it cause traffic congestion?

       如果这个项目是由市府提供政策支持，私人拥有、私人经营，不给纳税人增加额外税务负担，则是一个很好的创意和项目。
       If this project is supported by the city government, privately owned and operated, and does not impose additional tax burdens on taxpayers, it is a good idea and project.

       据笔者了解，建设表演艺术中心，是市长的梦想。但市长也很注重民意。其他市议员中三位表示需要仔细计算、谨慎论证，两位十分赞成，一位态度摸棱两可。所以本市纳税人的意见至关重要。
        According to the author, building a performing arts center is the mayor's dream. But the mayor also pays attention to public opinion. Three other city council members said that careful calculations and cautious arguments are needed, two are very supportive, and one is ambiguous. Therefore, the opinions of taxpayers in this city are crucial.

        如果您是Johns Creek的居民，可将意见发到：ElectedOfficials@johnscreekga.gov
        If you are a resident of Johns Creek, you can send your opinions to: ElectedOfficials@johnscreekga.gov