FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County officials postponed a vote on funding a whole health building at its new administrative campus after hearing from dozens of residents who favor having a local mental health center.
The Forsyth County Commission held a listening session Feb. 5 to field local mental health issues and concerns.
Commissioners are weighing whether the proposed building, estimated at around $38 million, should be included as part of a new county administration headquarters planned on Freedom Parkway. They were scheduled to discuss and possibly vote on the whole health building Feb. 6.
But, after two hours of comment supporting a mental health facility, County Manager David McKee requested the item be moved to the March 12 work session agenda to allow staff more time to meet with stakeholders.
The whole health building was one of three buildings proposed for the county’s new administration campus slated to open in summer 2026.
A new administration building, estimated to cost some $81 million, is designed to serve as a one-stop shop for all resident needs, with 17 departments consolidated into one location.
The cost of the administration building was previously estimated at $47 million in 2022, but the price tag rose to $81 million in 2023. The county’s project page for the campus has not been updated to reflect the change.
The Board of Commissioners began reserving funds in 2019 to move operations from the current administration building in downtown Cumming to a larger, new facility to match the county’s growing population.
The administration building is funded through surplus capital outlay funds.
Campus plans also call for an employee center, funded through surplus dollars in the county’s employee benefit fund. The facility, estimated to cost $21 million as of August, will serve as a place for recruitment and…
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