Forsyth County has approved a new administration campus outside the city of Cumming, sparking some disagreement within the city council.

Forsyth County approved the $114 million administration campus construction back in January of last year. This comes after four years of planning and setting aside surplus funds for the construction. 

The Board of Commissions approved the decision in 2019 to set aside funds for the County Administration Building, which has been fully paid for with those funds.

A Cumming City Council member signed a resolution saying they strongly opposed the construction and asked the General Assembly to allow its legislative office to be located outside the county seat. 

Georgia law requires the county’s official business to be conducted in the county seat. Forsyth County’s Board of Commissioners currently meets at 110 E. Main St. 

Despite opposition from two out of the three members of the board, Forsyth County is moving forward with plans to relocate. 

The new administration building will serve as a one-stop shop for residents with all 17 departments consolidated into one location. 

This would make it more convenient for residents to find their necessary needs in one location than having to search out multiple locations. This would also simplify the customer experience to have each department close to one another.

“The building that I work at doesn’t have much because it’s rented. We’re not even in the building in Cumming. I mean, we’re right across the street from the [Cumming] City Center and there’s a little sign outside saying where we are, but some people don’t know where to go because they drive to the building in Cumming, but we aren’t even there. So, it [would] be nice to have a building for everything in it.” – Shane Dempsey, Forsyth County building inspector

The population in Cumming has exploded in recent years, which in turn means it has outgrown its current facility.

The population in the county in 2005 was 137,643. As of 2023, the population was 272, 887. The population is on track to break 300,000 residents in the next five years.

The new administration center will provide more opportunities for employees, including a modern health and wellness center and a fitness center which would reduce employee healthcare costs.  

The employee utilization of the health and wellness center could be more cost effective than private providers when dealing with minor illnesses and injuries, preventative care and disease management. 

The 42-acre County Administration Campus will be located on Freedom Parkway with construction expected to be completed and open to the public in the summer of 2026.