Governor Announces Relocation of Corrections Headquarters to Forsyth

Governor Announces Relocation of Corrections Headquarters to Forsyth

State to Save More than $4 Million per Year when DOC moves to Tift College Campus

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that his FY07 budget will include $7.5 million to allow the Georgia Department of Corrections (DOC) to begin the relocation of its Atlanta headquarters to central Georgia, closer to the department’s geographical center of operations. DOC will move its five metro Atlanta headquarter locations into the existing facilities of the Tift College campus in Forsyth, Georgia.

“Moving the Department of Corrections to central Georgia is a sound business decision,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “This relocation will promote the OneGeorgia concept, decentralize state government and enhance good stewardship of public dollars.”

The DOC has five prisons located north of Atlanta and 35 prisons south of Macon. Moving the DOC headquarters to Forsyth will relocate 400 central office staff positions to the Tift College campus, an estimated annual payroll of $25 million. The consolidation and reduced rent payments will save the Department $4 million annually. The DOC will keep a small office in Atlanta for use by the Board of Corrections.

Improved work flow and physical plant efficiencies will allow for additional operational savings of approximately $250,000 per year because the department’s headquarters will be located closer to the majority of the prison facilities.

The DOC Academy, where 12,000 correctional officers and other employees are trained, will also transfer to the Tift College campus, freeing critically needed space at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) for use by other law enforcement entities.

The DOC plans to begin the move to the Tift College campus in 2008, completing the move by early 2009. Before it can be used, Tift College will undergo renovations, financed through the agency’s reduced budget for personal services. The FY07 $7.5 million will be used for design, abatement and site work on the campus, which was founded in 1847 and encompasses 40 acres and 225,000 square feet of building space.

Governor Perdue commended several legislators and local community leaders for their guidance and heavy involvement in the state’s decision to relocate the GDOC headquarters. “Representative Jim Cole has been instrumental as a strong advocate in the selection of the Tift College campus in Forsyth,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “I would also like to thank State Senators Ronnie Chance and Cecil Staton for their input and involvement in this process, as well as city and county community leaders who were immensely helpful.”

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