The Fulton County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution on Wednesday, Aug. 5, opposing tax abatements and financial incentives for data center projects across the county, a move that applies to all development authorities operating within Fulton's borders, including those serving Johns Creek.

The resolution, sponsored by District 1 Commissioner Bridget Thorne and co-sponsored by District 2 Commissioner Bob Ellis, urges the Development Authority of Fulton County to refuse any future data center incentive applications. It also covers Invest Atlanta and city-chartered development authorities, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"Fulton County taxpayers shouldn't be subsidizing some of the wealthiest companies in the world that are building these data centers," Thorne said at the Aug. 5 meeting, according to Spectrum News.

The DAFC has granted roughly $150 million in tax breaks for data centers since 2020, with about $75 million slated for a single Microsoft project, according to a Fulton County press release. Microsoft is separately working with Fulton and Douglas counties to unwind its existing incentive agreements for data center projects in East Point, Palmetto and Douglasville.

What it means for Johns Creek

The resolution cannot compel compliance. It functions as a formal policy statement, and zoning and land-use decisions for data center siting still rest with Fulton County's 15 cities. Johns Creek retains control over whether to approve data centers through its own zoning process.

But the county's message is clear.

Johns Creek's Technology Park corridor, a 500-acre business park along McGinnis Ferry Road and Medlock Bridge Road with roughly 7 million square feet of office and industrial space, has attracted life sciences and healthcare employers rather than data centers. Boston Scientific opened a $62.5 million manufacturing facility there, bringing more than 300 jobs. Boehringer Ingelheim is leasing more than 70,000 square feet and bringing more than 480 employees.

The city's economic development strategy targets healthcare, life sciences and innovation. Johns Creek holds Georgia's first gold-level BioReady Community designation.

Broader context

The resolution text notes that Georgia's state-level sales and use tax exemption for qualifying data center equipment costs county and city governments an estimated $1.1 billion in sales tax revenue in fiscal year 2026 alone. Other Fulton County cities, including Milton and Roswell, have adopted moratoriums pausing new data center approvals.

Thorne, who represents Johns Creek's district on the county board, spoke at the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce's 20th anniversary gala the same evening the resolution passed.

The Fulton County Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of the resolution to each municipality within the county, including Johns Creek. The DAFC has not publicly announced whether it will comply with the commission's request.