Fulton sheriff reported $307,063 in federal forfeiture funds at the end of 2025

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office reported $307,063.06 left in its federal asset-forfeiture accounts at the end of 2025. That balance is not unrestricted county money: the sharing agreement requires law-enforcement uses and prohibits using the funds to replace existing resources.⁠[1]

The money comes through the federal Equitable Sharing Program. The county describes it as a way for local governments to receive a share of seizures, confiscations and other law-enforcement activities in which the Sheriff’s Office played a cooperative or collaborative role.⁠[2]

The sheriff’s Justice Department account grew from $215,834.18 to $303,657.90 during 2025, with receipts of $127,249.74 exceeding spending of $39,426.02. A separate Treasury account held an unchanged $3,405.16, with no receipts or expenditures reported for the year.⁠[1]

Equipment accounted for $19,143.58 of the spending. The office also reported $11,282.44 for law-enforcement travel and per diem and $9,000 for training and education. Together, those three categories accounted for all reported spending.⁠[1]

Commissioners approved the sheriff’s 2026 agreement and certification on March 18 through the consent agenda, under item 26-0148. The financial figures describe the preceding year’s activity—not a new $307,063 award from that vote. Submitting the certification is a prerequisite to receiving money or property through the program.⁠[1]

The county’s Police Department had a different financial picture. Its separate certification reported no federal sharing receipts, spending or balances in either account for 2025. Commissioners approved its agreement separately under item 26-0147 at the same meeting.⁠[1][3]

The agreements also set accounting boundaries. Federal sharing money must be kept separate from state and local forfeiture funds and other sources. The sheriff’s agreement requires county procurement rules to be followed when spending the money and relevant documents and records to be retained for five years.⁠[1]