McKinney voters passed a ballot proposition that will allow package liquor stores to open in the city, according to unofficial results of the Nov. 8 election.
Results show 74.02% of voters, or 45,147 votes, were in favor of the measure and 25.98%, or 15,845 votes, were against it.
McKinney Mayor George Fuller said this is the outcome he was expecting from the community.
"I am elated that sales tax dollars will remain in our city for the benefit of our residents," Fuller said.
McKinney Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Hermes agreed, noting the turnout for McKinney voters. More than 60,000 votes were cast by McKinney voters, according to county election figures.
“We were very pleased to see that the voters clearly agree with us in the sense that they want to make sure that we're keeping our sales tax dollars in our community,” Hermes said.
The measure ended up on the ballot after the city received a petition with 22,717 valid signatures in January from representatives of local businesses and the McKinney Chamber of Commerce advocating for the alcohol election. Hermes said the response to the petition gave the chamber confidence in pursuing the ballot proposition, along with interest from liquor stores.
“We've been in touch with liquor stores before the election, and really before the petition as well, getting engaged, [seeing] who would be interested. They're all interested,” Hermes said. “McKinney is a market that they want to be in.”
Allowing package liquor sales in McKinney could result in as much as an additional $59.9 million in annual spending, 611 more jobs and another $1.34 million in local sales tax revenue, according to data from a 2008 study by Texas economist Ray Perryman.
Results are unofficial until they are canvassed. Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide/election-results to see results from all local elections in your community.
