Potter_County_Annual_Report_2020_Approved

6TH ANNUAL

Potter County Report
2019-2020

Quick Facts Potter County Commisioner’s Court

Population: H.R. Kelly Mercy Murguia NancyTanner Leon Church Alphonso Vaughn
Commissioner, Commissioner, Potter County Commissioner, Commissioner,
121,073 Precinct 1 Precinct 2 Judge Precinct 3 Precinct 4

Ethnicity: In Texas, each county is run by a five-member Commissioners' Court consisting of four
commissioners elected from single-member districts (called commissioner precincts) and a
White .........................................59,322 county judge elected at-large. The county judge does not have authority to veto a decision of
Black .........................................11,823 the commissioners court; the judge votes along with the commissioners (being the tie-breaker
Hispanic.....................................42,692 in close calls). In smaller counties, the county judge actually does perform judicial duties, but
Asian ............................................4,675 in larger counties the judge's role is limited to serving on the commissioners court and
Other............................................2,561 certifying elections. Certain officials, such as the sheriff and tax collector, are elected
separately by the voters, but the commissioners court determines their office budgets, and
Top 10 Commercial Tax Payors sets overall county policy. All county elections are partisan, and commissioner precincts are
redistricted after each ten year Census both to equalize the voting power in each and in
Southwestern Public Service consideration of the political party preferences of the voters in each.
BNSF Railway Company
BSA Hospital LLC Where your Property Tax Dollars Go
Northwest Texas Healthcare
Linde Gas North America Average School
Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. Districts -49.68¢
Asarco
Westgate Mall Potter County - 27.17¢
Amarillo Economic Development Corp. City of Amarillo - 14.61¢
Walmart Amarillo College
District -8.23¢
Median Income ................... $34,827 Underground Water
Conservation Districts -.31¢
HS Graduate or GED................$19,159
Some College No Degree .......$21,818 Tax Rate: .66402 per $100 valuation

Service Positions *2010 Census
11,264

Combined Expenditures

(Governmental Funds) Public Safety / Public
Service

$18,162,150

Judicial 27.98%

$15,970,902

- 24.61%

Elec�on Correc�ons &
Administra�on Rehabilita�on
$12,474,083
$482,429
0.74% 19.22%

Facili�es Capital Outlay Health & Human
Maintenance $1,886,048 Services
$981,920
$2,423,900 Debt Service 2.91% 1.51%
3.73% $2,758,447
Road & Bridge
General 4.25% $2,321,767
Administra�on 3.58%

$5,470,342
11.36%

Community Supervision And Inside Potter C
Corrections Department
Community Supervision and Corrections County Judge & County District Attorney’s Office
Department for the 47thJudicial District Commissioners The 47th Judicial District Attorney’s Office
(Adult Probation) serves the residents of In Texas, each county is run by a represents the State of Texas in the
Potter, Randall, and Armstrong Counties. five-member Commissioners’ Court prosecution of felony offenses committed
We are located on the 9th floor of the consisting of four Commissioners elected in Potter and Armstrong Counties and in
Santa Fe Building, and can be reached by from single-member districts (called civil matters related to criminal activity.
calling (806) 378-3700, or going to our commissioner precincts) and a County We also prosecute the misdemeanor
website at Judge is elected at large. The County offenses committed in Armstrong County.
pottercscd.org<http://pottercscd.org>.At Judge does not have authority to veto a We collaborate with local, state, and
the CSCD we currently have close to 70 decision of the Commissioners’ Court; the federal law enforcement agencies to
officers and staff that supervise 3,000 Judge votes along with the ensure justice is rendered effectively,
offenders. Commissioners (being the tie-breaker in efficiently, and fairly while also assisting
close calls). The Commissioners’ Court is crime victims and their families with the
County Attorney in charge of the entire budget for the many issues crime has forced upon them.
The Potter County Attorney’s Office county. In addition to presiding over Randall C. Sims, the elected 47th District
represents the State of Texas in the Commissioner’s Court, the County Judge Attorney, has a staff of 17 lawyers, 7
prosecution of all state law misdemeanor has judicial duties, including investigators, 8 secretaries, and 3 (VAC)
offenses committed in Potter County. misdemeanor criminal cases, probate victim assistance coordinators. One (1)
Additionally, the County Attorney’s Office cases, guardianship cases, mental health VAC is housed at the Amarillo Police
prosecutes offenses committed by commitments for 25 of the 26 counties in Department.
juveniles in Potter County. Other services the Panhandle and also presides over the
provided by the office include mental health docket, a newly established District Clerk’s Office
representation of Children’s Protective duty. The County Judge is also in charge The District Clerk is to support the district
Services and Adult Protective Services, of all county cremations for indigent court system. District Courts hear many
representation in protective order citizens in the county. The County Judge types of cases including felony criminal,
proceedings of people victimized by sits on the board of Panhandle Regional family, juvenile, delinquent and greater
family violence, representation of the Planning Commission, Metropolitan value civil cases. The district clerk is the
State of Texas in mental health hearings, Planning Organization, Tri-State Fair and official recorder, registrar and custodian
and providing civil representation and many other political organizations. of all court pleadings, instrument and
legal advice to Potter County and its papers that are a part of any district court
officials and employees in matters County Courthouse case. The district clerk is the officer of the
concerning official duties and county court in charge of the jury selection
business. process and acts as a liaison between the
jurors, courts and employers. This
County Clerk’s Office responsibility includes summoning,
The Potter County Clerk serves as Clerk selecting, swearing and impaneling both
for the County Court, County Courts at petit and grand juries for district courts.
Law 1 & 2 and Commissioner’s Court. The Since the Supreme Court instituted
Clerk’s responsibility in serving each statewide e-filing, Potter County for
Court is to record, keep and maintain received 5430 cases via e-filing.
documents filed in each case. The Clerk
is also responsible for issuing citations, LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER
warrants & subpoena’s as directed by the
Court or as requested by the parties to the
case or their attorney.
Additionally, the County Clerk issues
Marriage License and records and
maintains legal instruments pertaining to
real and personal property.

Law Enforcement Center

County Purchasing Tax Assessor – Collector
The Potter County Purchasing The Potter County Tax Office assesses
Elections Administration Department is responsible for the and collects ad valorem taxes as
Responsible for maintaining accurate purchase of all supplies, materials, identified and valued by the
voter registration information, as well as services and equipment required or used Potter-Randall Appraisal District for the
holding accurate, fair elections for voters by the County. Vendors interested in County, City of Amarillo, Amarillo Junior
from all political viewpoints. Elections doing business with Potter County are College, Amarillo ISD, River Road ISD,
Administration receives oversight from encouraged to visit the County’s website Highland Park ISD, High Plains Water
the local Elections Commission (www.mypottercounty.com) to register to District, Panhandle Groundwater District,
comprised of the County Judge, County be on the County’s vendor list and review and the Village of Bishop Hills. The Tax
Treasurer, County Clerk, County the “How to do Business with Potter Office also collects delinquent taxes for
Democratic Party Chair, and County County” page. Amarillo Hospital District, Potter Hospital
Republican Party Chair. While our local District, and the Valle De Oro Road
Commissioners Court and County Judge Law Enforcement Center District. Additionally, the Tax Office
are responsible for various election The Sheriff’s department is full of collects beer, wine, and liquor license
orders, the Elections Office is a separate dedicated men and women that are fees. Acting as an Agent for the State of
entity of the county in order to maintain a honored to Serve the Citizens of Potter Texas, the office processes motor vehicle
nonpartisan role. There are over 53,500 County. The Sheriff is the Chief Law registration and title transfers for the
registered voters in Potter County. Enforcement Officer of the County and residents of Potter County as well as
Information on registering to vote or conservator of the peace. The office issuing disabled placards and temporary
voting in an election can be found at respond to all types of calls, criminal and permits. Effective March 1st, 2015, the tax
www.mypottercounty.gov. We can be civil. There were a total of 25,597 calls for offices in the State of Texas also began
reached by phone at 806.379.2299. service in 2015. They are also responsible collecting the state’s portion of the
for the county jail. Their motto is serving vehicle inspection fee.
first and protecting second, all citizens of
Potter County. Keep up with them on Treasurer
Facebook at pottercountysheriff or for The County Treasurer, receives and
more information see our website at deposits all county revenues and acts as
pottercountysheriff.org chief liaison between the county and
depository banks. Disburses payroll and
Santa Fe funds upon the order of the
Commissioners Court. The Treasurer is
the designated county investment officer.
Additionally, acts as the chief liaison
between all county Unclaimed Property
and The Texas State Comptroller.

Disclaimer - the graphics are not an all-inclusive list
of the departments or elected officials in Potter
County. The Annual Report is meant to provide you a
high level overview.

District Courts

Santa Fe Fire & Rescue

Corrections Center Central
Fire
Station

General Fund Revenues By Source Capital Assets

(Net Of Depreciation)

Revenues Budget Actual Difference 2019 2018
Taxes $ 50,605,912 $ 50,892,809 $ 286,897
Licenses & Fees 37,831 Land $ 5,019,784 $ 5,019,784
Intergovernmental 4,232,290 4,270,121 228,089
Fines & Forfeitures 2,208,191 2,436,280 (74,238) Buildings and Improvements 63,443,276 65,655,092
Rents & Recoveries 1,058,510 559,477
Other Revenue 1,096,320 984,272 11,501 Streets and Bridges 11,078,331 9,749,778
1,000,000 1,655,797
Total Revenues $ 60,201,223 $ 1,026,555 Furniture and Equipment 8,371,549 8,460,341
988,499
$ 61,227,778 Difference Construction in Progress 1,026,731 -
$ 946,214
703,115 Total $ 88,939,671 $ 88,884,995
38,681
General Fund Expenditures By Function 1,712,033 Condensed Statement Of Net Position
585,519
375,067 (Governmental Activities)
108,491
263,132 2019 2018
213,608
Expenditures Budget Actual ASSETS $ 113,102,009 $ 48,916,411
General Administration $ 8,213,039 $ 7,266,825 $ 4,945,860 Current and other Assets 164,291,593 88,755,442
Facilities Maintenance Capital Assets 277,393,602 137,671,853
Election Administration 3,123,515 2,420,400 2018
Judicial 486,835 448,154 Total Assets
Public Safety / Public Service $ 20,570,000
Corrections & Rehabilitation 17,133,606 15,421,573 5,450,000 NET DEFERRED OUTFLOWS
Health & Human Services 11,750,727 11,165,208 -
Road & Bridge 12,849,150 12,474,083 Pension 15,464,307 815,790 -
Capital Outlay 1,090,411 $ 26,020,000
2,584,899 981,920 LIABILITIES 6,660,375 3,271,350
Total Expenditures 2,321,767 Current Liabilities 111,740,519 31,330,136
739,817 Non-current Liabilities 13,663,121
$ 57,971,999 526,209 Net Pension Liability 1,862,760 48,264,607
$ 53,026,139 120,263,654
Total Liabilities
Outstanding Debt
2019 NET POSITION 63,815,673 64,693,433
2012 Advanced General Obligation Net Investment in Capital
Refunding Bonds $ 19,660,000 Assets 13,307,287 5,738,804
21,470,000 Restricted 20,119,373 19,790,799
2016 Certificates of Obligation 50,375,000 Unrestricted $ 97,242,333 $ 90,223,036
2017 Tax Notes
$ 74,620,000 Net Position
Total

For additional information regarding the finances of Potter County, please visit the Financial Transparency page at www.mypottercounty.com to review our comprehen-
sive annual financial report (CAFR).

Contact Information

In Person Potter County Courthouse District Courts Phone E-mail
500 South Fillmore 501 South Fillmore
Santa Fe Building Amarillo, TX 79101 Amarillo, TX 79101 (806) 379-2246 [email protected]
900 South Polk Street
Amarillo, TX 79101