Forsyth County Opens $140M Government Building Commissioners Can't Legally Vote In

An 1800s law prohibits county commissioners from voting and conducting official business outside the county seat, which is the city of Cumming.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 4:03am

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Forsyth County has opened a new $140 million administration building to house 17 departments and about 350 employees, but county commissioners are prohibited by an 1800s state law from voting or conducting official business outside the county seat of Cumming. The county had already purchased the 40-acre site off Georgia 400 when they learned of the law, and now they are seeking to have the property annexed by Cumming, but the city has rejected the request.

Why it matters

This situation highlights the challenges local governments can face when outdated laws conflict with the need for modern, efficient government operations. The inability of Forsyth County commissioners to vote or conduct business in the new $140 million building they built raises questions about government transparency and the ability to serve residents effectively.

The details

Forsyth County built the new $140 million administration building in response to the county's rapid growth, as the previous county building from 1996 had become too small. However, an 1800s state law prohibits the county commissioners from voting or conducting official business outside the county seat of Cumming, which is over 2 miles away from the new building's location. The county has tried to get the property annexed by Cumming, offering $7 million for transportation projects, but the city council unanimously rejected the request, with the mayor saying the county was trying to get the city to 'bail them out'.

  • The new $140 million administration building opened in 2026.
  • The county commissioners learned of the 1800s law prohibiting them from voting outside Cumming after they had already purchased the 40-acre site.
  • The county commissioners voted to request annexation of the property by Cumming without the $7 million funding agreement.
  • The Cumming City Council voted unanimously to reject the annexation request on Tuesday night.

The players

David McKee

The Forsyth County manager who stated the previous county building had been outgrown due to the county's explosive growth.

Alfred John

The Forsyth County Commission Chairman who stated the new building is needed for employees and services, not commissioners.

Troy Brumbalow

The Mayor of Cumming who rejected the county's annexation request, stating the city never asked or demanded anything from Forsyth County.

Forsyth County

The county that built the new $140 million administration building outside of the county seat of Cumming, in violation of an 1800s state law.

Cumming

The city that is the county seat of Forsyth County, and has rejected the county's request to annex the property where the new administration building is located.

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What they’re saying

“That never even crossed anybody's mind. Perhaps it should have. That ship has sailed, if you will.”

— David McKee, Forsyth County Manager

“You're the ones trying to get us to bail you out. So the answer is not no, it's hell no.”

— Troy Brumbalow, Mayor of Cumming

“We feel that we are in the right place.”

— Alfred John, Forsyth County Commission Chairman

What’s next

The Forsyth County Commission will continue to hold its meetings at the old county building across from Cumming City Hall, as they are prohibited from voting or conducting official business in the new $140 million administration building.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the challenges local governments can face when outdated laws conflict with the need for modern, efficient government operations. The inability of Forsyth County commissioners to vote or conduct business in the new $140 million building they built raises questions about government transparency and the ability to serve residents effectively.