BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE
Johns Creek, GA, September 5, 2025: “Johns Creek has come a long way in the last four years, and I’m proud to have been part of that journey,” said Dilip Tunki, Mayor Pro Tem and Post 1 City Council Member, as he announced his bid for re-election this fall.
In a wide-ranging interview with NRI Pulse, Tunki reflected on his first term—one marked by Johns Creek being named the #1 Best Place to Live in the U.S.—and shared how his focus on public safety, fiscal discipline, and smart development has prepared the city for the future.
“Back in 2021, it was a big win with the highest number of votes, more than the Mayor,” he said. “My term started in 2022, and now, almost four years later, we’ve made significant progress as a city.”
Looking back on his first term, Tunki summarized his achievements under three themes: financial stewardship, smarter projects, and parks and partnerships. “We have fully funded essential services, strengthened partnerships, and planned for the city’s long-term growth. Johns Creek is safe, thriving, and financially sound.”
A central theme of his tenure has been ensuring Johns Creek remains one of the best places to live in the country. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked Johns Creek the #1 Best Place to Live in the U.S., a recognition he sees as a direct reflection of thoughtful planning, responsible investment, and strong leadership.
Public safety, Tunki stressed, has always been his highest priority. “We are one of the safest cities in the country. Our police response time in July was one minute and one second. The fire department’s average response was five minutes and 24 seconds—one of the best in the nation. Police and fire services are fully funded. We are also building Fire Station 63 with a new police substation to expand capacity.”
When it comes to finances, Tunki emphasized his consistent record of supporting taxpayers. “Rollback doesn’t mean a tax decrease—it means keeping revenue neutral. When assessments come in higher, we adjust so that residents aren’t paying more than necessary. I always supported the rollback in 2023, 2024, and 2025. It passed in 2024. In 2025, we reduced the millage from 3.646 to 3.492. I also helped bring the Parks Bond millage down from 0.39 to 0.25. We didn’t need that extra buffer, so taxpayers got a break.”
With his engineering background, he has pushed the city toward smarter and more efficient project delivery. He championed the “design-build” approach, which replaced the traditional “design-bid-build” process. “Just because we haven’t done it in the past doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it in the future. The design-build method saved us over $1 million on the Maker Space and Robotics Center project. The original projection was $2.8 million, but we redesigned it and approved a 10,000 square-foot building for $2.4 million, complete with robotics space, full air conditioning, and expansion capacity. There was criticism that the project would have no AC, but that is wrong—it will be a first-class facility. It’s a win for students and residents.”
Expanding recreation and partnerships has also been a focus. “Schools have outdoor fields that go unused after hours and on weekends. We offered to maintain the fields if the schools allowed public access. We started with one school, and it was successful. This year we’re adding more. Robotics is also huge in North Fulton. Some high schools have robotics teams bigger than their football teams. Now, with the new Maker Space, students will finally have a place to practice.”
One of the signature projects of his tenure is the $40+ million Boardwalk Park at Town Center. “When City Hall was built, outward-facing bathrooms were already constructed in anticipation of this park. So the notion that there are no bathrooms is incorrect—they are already there. The Boardwalk will become a central green space with trails, a scenic walkway, a stage for concerts, and pedestrian connections. We’re even building a tunnel under Highway 141 to connect trails and neighborhoods, making it safer and more walkable.”
He pointed to economic development as essential for Johns Creek’s long-term growth. “Boston Scientific has moved into Johns Creek, bringing high-quality jobs and visibility. The Medley development—a $600 million live-work-play project—is under construction in Town Center. It’s modeled after Avalon in Alpharetta and is scheduled to open in October 2026. This is about preparing Johns Creek for the future.”
Tunki also highlighted work on stormwater management. “As development happens, runoff increases and it’s eroding people’s backyards. The question was, do we just put a band-aid and fix individual backyards, or do we start from the root cause? We recommended bio-retention systems, which slow down runoff and restore water slowly. We also started a stormwater grant program that provides matching funds to residents. So far, the city has already received 42 applications.”
On community events and culture, he pointed to his role in securing sponsorships. “Through my business contacts, I was able to secure more than 50% of the sponsorships for Diwali. Macy’s came on as the title sponsor. That reduces the burden on taxpayers and strengthens cultural celebrations. Once the new park and amphitheater are complete, we’ll be able to host bigger events, with capacity for about 5,000 people, all connected to trails and walkways.”
Preserving history through public art has also been part of his vision. “We repurposed the steel from the 100-year-old Rogers Bridge into sculptures. One large piece and five smaller ones are now displayed throughout the city. It was a great collaboration with Fulton County and surrounding cities.”
Other initiatives he championed include passing an ordinance banning outdoor pet sales, securing Johns Creek’s ARC Green Communities Certification, and expanding access to cultural events such as Diwali, Lunar New Year, and Juneteenth.
With re-election on the horizon, he outlined the priorities that guide his vision. “We started many projects, and now it’s about building on them. I want to make sure Johns Creek is financially strong, business-friendly, and prepared for future generations. When you reach number one, maintaining that top spot requires even harder work. My focus will be to keep funding public safety, keep taxes low, and create a strong environment for businesses. I also want to bring higher education opportunities here. If we can establish a university satellite campus, it will boost workforce development, attract employers, and make Johns Creek even more attractive to young professionals.”
In closing, Tunki reinforced his vision for Johns Creek’s future. “Johns Creek is financially stable, safe, and one of the best cities in the country. We’ve proven that our approach works. Why change what’s working? My goal is to build on this success and secure the city’s future for the next generation.”
