According to unofficial voting results for the Frisco ISD tax ratification election, 11,059 votes, or 58.4 percent of the vote, are against the 13 cent increase to the district’s property taxes, while 7,875 votes, or 41.6 percent of the vote, are in favor of the tax hike.

The results are unofficial until canvassed.

More than 18,000 voters cast ballots during the early voting period for this election, about twice the total number of voters during FISD's 2014 bond election.

"Obviously we are disappointed in the outcome, because so many of the school finance experts in our community clearly laid out the ramification of not replacing the [Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction] funding from the state," said Megan DeWolfe, member of the Yes to Frisco Teachers group. "As a Frisco High School teacher, I can tell you that our teachers will continue to teach with all the passion we always have; for us it was never about the pay raise."

Frisco United, a political action committee in opposition of the tax increase, argued it was important to keep Frisco affordable and that the district needed to be financially responsible.

"District residents have spoken loud and clear, demanding greater financial accountability from FISD leadership,"Frisco United member Toni Fabry said. "The voters of this election expect the classroom and teachers to be protected and that the district will work to unify citizens."

FISD board of trustees unanimously called for the tax ratification election in June. If approved by voters, the combined tax rate, which currently $1.46 per $100 of valuation, would have increased to $1.59. The increase would have meant an extra $37 a month, or $443 a year, in property taxes on an average home within FISD. It would have also generated about $30 million over three years for the school district.

According to district officials, the tax increase would have helped the district to make up for the elimination of a special fund known as the Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction, or ASATR, for the 2017-18 school year.

District officials said the tax increase would have helped pay for new teachers and provide staff raises and adjustments to teacher pay scales. This represents a 2 percent of midpoint salary increase.