Potter County is operating at a budgetary deficit, according to the most recent budget approved by County Commissioners.
According to the budget approved by County Commissioners in September, Potter County is operating at a deficit in the current budget. In the current general fund budget, Potter County sees a $346,648 deficit when revenue is compared to expenditures. Meanwhile, for special revenues, such as library fees and court costs, the County sees a $1,380,006 deficit.
The lion's share of the deficit, however, comes from bonds issued in the construction process of Potter County's new law enforcement center. Those bonds make up $9,914,000 of Potter County's deficit.
Kerry Hood, the auditor for Potter County, says that the deficit's total is mainly because of the construction project for the new law enforcement office.
"[The $9,914,000] is from the construction costs," Hood told the Amarillo Pioneer. "We do have an operating deficit, but it's only $346,000."
The regular general fund is primarily funded through property taxes. According to the County budget, Potter County is on track to collect $48,430,128 in property taxes in 2017-2018. The county also has about $35 million in funds retained from 2016-2017's budget.
According to county documents, the County Commission voted 3-2 to approve the budget earlier this year. Judge Nancy Tanner and Commissioners Alphonso Vaughn and Leon Church voted to approve the budget, while Commissioners Mercy Murguia and H.R. Kelly voted against the budget.
Commissioner Leon Church did not return our request for comment at the time of this story's publication.
For more information, visit http://www.co.potter.tx.us/default.aspx?Potter_County/Home.
