CUMMING, Ga. — Forsyth County Board of Commissioners abruptly shut down a project to build a youth mental health treatment facility with federal funds on Tuesday.
Forsyth County had already spent about $3 million in federal COVID relief money on a new mental health facility. Tuesday’s vote devastated advocates who argued that the facility is desperately needed.
“I don’t think it is the county’s role or Forsyth County citizens’ responsibility to fund a state facility,” Commissioner Kerry Hill told commissioners during a work session.
It comes after the commissioners said for years they would use the funds to build the facility. About a year ago, some of them realized they could use the funds to upgrade county water infrastructure instead—which some commissioners argue is a required expense.
“We have critical infrastructure costs, and what we’re doing is transferring those costs to our taxpayers. Ultimately, that has to be paid for. We don’t have an option not to do the water project,” said Commissioner Alfred John.
A majority of commissioners argued that the state, not Forsyth County, should build and run a facility for young mental health patients.
“They’ve got a lot of money sitting in surplus,” Kerry said, noting that the state had offered to fund and direct operations of the facility if Forsyth County built it.
Commissioner Cindy Jones Mill lamented the absence of facilities for an increasing load of young mental health patients.
“There’s nothing for children. I mean, the children are being sent to Savannah and some to Peachford. So there’s nothing nearby,” she added.
Still, the board voted 3-2, ultimately killing the project.
Sherry Unwala lost her son Carl to suicide, watching as the board of commissioners shut down the project.
“I am brokenhearted. We have worked hard,” she told 11Alive News afterward.
“And we’ve been working for this for years,” added Mary Shaffer, who has advocated for the facility. “This system is so broken. This would be a small help, a small help. And that’s taken away, too.”