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Sandy Springs Police Foundation pushes state tax-credit fundraising under ‘Lehi Crime Act’
Summary
Members of the newly reconstituted Sandy Springs Police Foundation told council members they are soliciting state tax-credit donations under the "Lehi Crime Act," aiming for $3 million this fiscal year and longer-term funds toward a tactical instruction center.
Sandy Springs — The Sandy Springs Police Foundation briefed the City Council work session on Oct. 7 about an active fundraising campaign that relies on a Georgia tax-credit program the presenters called the "Lehi Crime Act." Manny Fialco, chair of the Sandy Springs Police Foundation, told council members individuals can redirect up to $5,000 of personal state tax liability (up to $10,000 for married couples filing jointly) and corporations may redirect up to 75% of state tax liability to a qualified police foundation, receiving a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit.
The message was practical: the foundation is a 501(c)(3) created in 2023 to supplement the city police budget for supplies, equipment and capital needs. "It's a dollar for dollar tax credit," Fialco said, explaining the money would otherwise go to the state and that the foundation's purpose is to keep those dollars local to support the Sandy Springs Police Department.
Why it matters: foundation leaders said the program can move non‑taxpayer money into local public-safety priorities, including one-time capital items the city's operating budget cannot cover. The board reported raising about $700,000 year-to-date and set a fiscal-year fundraising goal of $3 million; its longer-term target is $40–50 million to help fund a proposed tactical instruction center adjacent to public-safety headquarters.
Program details and limits discussed: foundation leaders told the council the law caps receipts at $3,000,000 per police foundation and cited an overall statutory ceiling of $75,000,000. They said the foundation had made an initial disbursement of $49,135 to cover half of study, drawings and site work for the tactical instruction center. Board membership and operations were described as active — the presenters said the board has up to 25 seats under its bylaws and currently counts 19 members with a seven-member executive committee.
Council members asked procedural and oversight questions, and Finance/Legal staff (Dan Lee) and presenters clarified that the foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) that can accept the tax-credit funds while the city's Benevolent Fund remains a separate vehicle for officer welfare. Fialco and other board members directed residents interested in contributing to the foundation website and offered phone help from staff to complete the Department of Revenue registration steps.
No formal council action was taken; the background presentation was informational. Foundation leaders urged residents and local businesses to use the tax-credit mechanism before year-end deadlines and said they would continue outreach, marketing and meetings with CPAs and tax professionals to assist donors.
Ending note: Foundation leaders framed the campaign as an effort to supplement — not replace — the city's recurring police budget. They said funds raised would be tracked to specific purposes, and that legal and city staff are working with the board to document permitted uses of proceeds in coordination with the Police Department.
