Tax Allocation Districts for Working Families: A New Vision for Sandy Springs
Sandy Springs is a city full of potential, but right now we’re facing challenges that can’t be ignored. Our population is declining. Our schools are losing enrollment. And too many families — including teachers, police officers, nurses, and service workers — are being priced out of the very community they help keep strong.
For too long, City Hall has leaned on the same playbook: give tax breaks and incentives to developers and hope the benefits “trickle down” to the people. The results are clear — luxury apartments, high-priced retail, and a city that feels less affordable every year.
It’s time for a new approach.
What Is a Tax Allocation District (TAD)?
A Tax Allocation District is a tool cities use to reinvest future tax growth back into a specific area. Normally, these districts are set up to fund large-scale development projects. As property values rise, the new tax revenue (called the “increment”) goes into the district rather than the general budget, paying for infrastructure and improvements.
In other words: instead of spreading that tax growth across the city, it stays in the district to fund its redevelopment.
The Problem With the Old Model
Here in Sandy Springs, and across Georgia, TADs have almost always been designed with developers in mind. That means public dollars are used to fund projects that don’t directly address the needs of working families.
We’ve seen this play out: families pushed out by rising rents, schools losing students, and neighborhoods left behind.
My Proposal: TADs for Working Families
I believe we can flip this model. As Mayor, I will push for Tax Allocation Districts for Working Families — districts designed not for developers, but for the people who call Sandy Springs home.
These TADs will prioritize:
Affordable Housing: Ensuring teachers, police officers, nurses, and service workers can afford to live here.
Neighborhood Investment: Funding sidewalks, parks, and transit access where families live — not just in commercial corridors.
Stronger Schools: Partnering with Fulton County Schools to support safe routes, after-school programs, and facilities that help stabilize enrollment.
Small Business Growth: Creating incentives for local businesses that keep dollars in our community, not just national chains.
Why It Matters
This is about more than tax policy. It’s about values.
Do we want a city that works only for developers and big business?
Or do we want a Sandy Springs that invests in families, strengthens schools, and creates a future where everyone has a chance to thrive?
I’m running for Mayor because I believe it’s time to put families before developers, people before politics, and community before profits.
Together, we can make Sandy Springs a city that works for all of us.
— Dontaye Carter
Candidate for Mayor of Sandy Springs
