Potter County approves two temporary hires to ease webDEALER backlog

Potter County Commissioners Court approved funding on Aug. 11 to add two part‑time employees in the county tax office to help reduce customer lines created after the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles made webDEALER mandatory for all dealers. The hires are paid $15 per hour and will last through Sept. 30, 2025.

The tax assessor, Thomas Warren, told the court widespread dealer use of webDEALER has shifted many title and registration tasks online and increased complexity for small dealerships that previously completed transactions in person. “With the state mandate every dealer is on webDEALER,” Warren said. “Our smaller dealers are the ones where we’ve had to kind of help guide them through webDEALER because it’s just such a complicated platform.”

Commissioners first voted to approve the temporary help for about a month to six weeks; that motion passed on an initial voice/hand count. The court then approved a budget amendment to move $6,886 from contingency into salaries and fringe to cover the two positions; that budget amendment passed unanimously. Auditor Brandon and Warren explained the funds come from contingency within the current fiscal year budget rather than from next year’s budget.

Court discussion noted the hires are intended as a short‑term measure to reduce immediate backlogs while the tax office and local dealers adapt. Warren said staff would schedule the part‑time employees to cover peak traffic, roughly 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and expected a two‑month window would “at least make a dent.” Commissioners also flagged the possibility that the temporary fix could become longer term if webDEALER remains problematic and directed staff to revisit staffing in the next budget cycle if needed.

No changes were made to webDEALER policy or to the state mandate during the meeting. The court’s action covers payroll and fringe for the remainder of the fiscal year; any extension or conversion to permanent positions would require separate approval.