By Nick Self, freelance reporter for The Amarillo Pioneer
A decades-old contract is causing fresh headaches for the Potter-Randall Appraisal District (PRAD), with local critics and some board members questioning whether Potter County has any real say in how the joint district is run.
A popular local Facebook page, Take It in the Gas, has recently been calling out PRAD, arguing that during joint board meetings, Potter County officials don’t actually get a meaningful vote. The page suggests the setup looks more like a Randall County operation with Potter County just along for the ride.
Chief Appraiser Jeffrey Dagley addressed the issue in a recent meeting. He explained that, technically, Randall County votes to approve policy while Potter County is there in a “consulting” role. An attorney for the district went further during the last board meeting, telling members that the 1987 contract signed by both counties could be interpreted to mean that Randall County has the sole vote on policy matters.
The contract was executed back then by Potter County Board Chairman John Boyce and Randall County Board Chairman Bill Mobley. Section 10 of the agreement states: “It is agreed that the normal day-to-day administration of the appraisal office shall depend on the Randall County Appraisal District Board of Directors for policy decisions,” with no mention of Potter County having input.
Dagley noted that it has become “custom” over the years to let Potter County cast a vote anyway — though that vote comes after Randall County’s and is essentially non-binding.
Things got tense during the April 22 board meeting. Board members from both counties agreed to table all agenda items until the old contract could be reviewed and fixed. But when it came to an item about auditing services, Randall County Board Member Bob Lindsey made a motion to approve it. The motion passed unanimously among the Randall side.
Potter County’s board, however, unanimously voted to table the item instead. Dagley then asked if Randall County wanted to change its vote. Lindsey reportedly replied, “I guess I’ll change my motion since Potter County didn’t give us a choice,” and moved to table it, which then passed unanimously.
According to a legal expert consulted for this story, under the contract as currently written, the item would have passed and been binding even if Potter County had voted against it.
Both boards are now scheduled to meet separately on Tuesday, May 5, to discuss the contract and other items. It remains unclear what would happen if the two counties end up voting in opposite directions on proposed changes.
A legal scholar interviewed said the situation is problematic: “The contract as written appears to tie the hands of the people who are supposed to be representing Potter County. At this point, it’s basically impossible for PRAD to follow the contract and for the district to discharge its required duties.”
One PRAD board member, speaking to the Pioneer on the condition of anonymity, expressed frustration with the 1987 agreement.
“I’m honestly shocked the board members who served this county in the late 1980s would have agreed to such a contract,” the member said. “In my opinion, this contract is unconscionable and is, at the very least, bad policy. Potter County taxpayers and taxing entities are essentially getting screwed. We’re paying our fair share without the teeth to have any say on anything related to the district’s operations.”
Under Section 6 of the contract, taxing units in both Potter and Randall counties pay proportional shares for the district’s operations. Section 5 requires the chief appraiser to present a budget to the Potter County Board, but gives that board no actual vote on approving it.
The only areas where Potter County clearly gets a vote are ratifying the chief appraiser (selected by Randall’s board) and making appointments to the Potter County Appraisal Review Board, which state law requires. Otherwise, the contract gives Potter County little formal power despite its financial contributions.
Potter County’s board includes Chairman Zac Plummer and members Cindy Spanel, Mitzi Wade, Blair Schaffer, Chip Hunt, Jodie Wheeler, and Tom Warren II, with Potter County Tax Assessor-Collector Thomas Warren III serving as an ex-officio member.
Randall County’s board is led by Chairwoman Jinger White and includes members Diane Thurman, Claudia Burkett, Bob Lindsey, Jason Ault, Jack Klaus, Haley Holt, and Deborah Foster, with Tax Assessor-Collector Christina McMurray as ex-officio.
As the May 5 meetings approach, many are watching to see whether the two counties can rework the old agreement or if the unusual power imbalance will remain. For now, a contract from 1987 is raising real questions in 2026 about fairness, representation, and who actually calls the shots at PRAD.
This story will be updated as new developments emerge from the upcoming meetings.
