MARIETTA - The Cobb Schools Foundation was a topic on Neal Boortz's talk-radio show again on Wednesday, though the self-proclaimed "Talkmaster" was much calmer from the day before. On Tuesday, Boortz read a letter from a lawyer who questioned why thousands of dollars in donations had not yet been given to the family Karla Campos, a kindergartener killed by a car on Dec. 9.

And although other questions have been swirling about the legality of the nonprofit foundation accepting donations for a specific person, and whether the donations made to the Camposes are tax-deductible, Marietta Mayor Steve Tumlin, who is both a certified public accountant and a lawyer, said Wednesday that he does not believe there will be a problem.

On Wednesday, Boortz had Sheri Brante, the foundation's director, on the air, along with east Cobb lawyer William Claxton, who wrote the letter questioning the dispersements.

"Was there any truth in what we heard yesterday?" Boortz asked Brante.

"No, not at all," she said. "When we first met with Mr. Campos to talk about the money that had come in, primarily from your listeners, we asked how he would like us to disperse the funds and we discussed some options. I asked what her favorite subject was, and he said she loved art. Then the principal mentioned they they were getting ready to have a mural painted outside the art room - that was already in the works."

Brante said the Campos donations are not being used to pay for the mural.

Belinda Skelton, the executive producer of the Boortz show, said that when a technician from Reliable Heating and Air went to the Campos home on Tuesday to fix their heater, he discovered the gas was turned off.

Brante said that was the Campos family's preference, because they are looking to move. The family, which includes two small children, is using space heaters in their rented home.

"I got hot and bothered because my wife operates a family charitable foundation, and we're both solidly into this idea of giving. I asked my listeners to step up for the Campos family, and when I do that, I feel a responsibility for what happens to the money after that point," Boortz said. "When I start hearing stories about murals and whatever, and the family has unpaid bills, I feel like I've let my listeners here down."

Attorney Claxton said, "This is a testament to your listeners and to you - as abrasive and as harsh as you can be - to do this for a family they didn't know, at Christmastime in a tough economy. It was also a testament to the Cobb Schools Foundation that they were willing to do this, because they don't need additional burdens."

Boortz also mentioned that he was not invited to the foundation's hastily-arranged news conference Tuesday afternoon to dispute the allegations made on his show that morning.

"I truly apologize for that," Brante said. "The invitations went out from the district's communications department."

Boortz acknowledged that "we all got into quite a urinating contest yesterday," but that in the end, "I think this is all going to be a lot better now."

Later, Brante said anyone who contributed money should discuss with a tax advisor whether the donation is tax-deductible. But a copy of a blanket receipt the foundation sends to donors, including those who gave to the Karla Campos Memorial Fund, states, "Tax-deductible contribution to Cobb County Public Schools."

The nonprofit is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and thus can accept tax-deductible donations that usually can not be directed to a specific individual.

"This is a very unique situation," Brante said.

Tumlin, who is both an accountant and a lawyer, said this fund-raising effort is unlikely to raise the ire of the IRS, either for donors seeking a tax deduction or the foundation.

"It was done for a charitable purpose, and I don't think they would have a problem," Tumlin said. "I don't think their 501(c) 3 will disappear."