McKinney ISD voters will consider a $500 million bond package and a voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE, at the polls this November.
The VATRE, if approved, could net an additional $4.1 million in revenue for teacher compensation and student programs while the bond proposition includes funding for new district facilities, facility upgrades, technology and safety upgrades, according to a news release from the district.
MISD trustees unanimously approved calling for the bond propositions and VATRE to be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot at an Aug. 10 meeting.
The overview
The package will be presented to voters through five propositions, per district documents. The propositions were developed by the district’s Long Range Facilities Planning Committee following a review of the district’s facilities, projected enrollment and financial capacity. Propositions on the ballot will include:
- Proposition A: The VATRE would increase the maintenance and operations portion of the district's property tax rate to $0.7464 per $100 valuation, which is higher than the allowed tax rate limit and prompts voter approval. The $4.1 million of generated funds, if approved, would be used for teacher compensation and student programs, per the release.
- Proposition B: $430.95 million for two new elementary schools in growing areas, renovations to existing facilities, new buses, safety improvements and a shared career and technical education facility in partnership with Collin College
- Proposition C: $62 million for instructional technology and network equipment
- Proposition D: $4.5 million for renovating the McKinney High School training pool
- Proposition E: $2.5 million for replacing turf and track at existing district stadiums
"This proposal reflects months of study by two Board appointed citizens’ committees which studied all of our facilities and considered further savings for our district," Board President Amy Dankel said in the release. "McKinney ISD is committed to providing the community with clear, transparent facts so every voter can see the details of all five propositions."
The specifics
The district’s tax rate is made up of two parts:
- Maintenance and operations, or M&O, rate and is determined by state officials
- Interest and sinking, or I&S, rate, which is determined by district officials
Although the VATRE could increase the M&O tax rate by $0.0121 cents, district officials expect to lower the I&S rate by $0.05 cents, offsetting the total property tax rate to see a year-over-year 3.4% decrease, per district documents.
If all propositions are approved by voters, the district’s total tax rate will be $1.0664 per $100 valuation, which is $0.0379 cents lower than the prior year’s property tax rate, according to district documents.
“The verbiage that's about to be read is going to say that we are voting to increase our tax rate,” trustee Kenneth Ussery said. “The truth is, we are decreasing our tax rate by almost four pennies.”
The median-valued homestead in MISD is valued at $368,036, according to a presentation from Dennis Womack, assistant superintendent of Business Operations. With the proposed total tax rate of $1.0664 per $100 valuation, the median-valued homestead would see an annual bill of $3,925, which is $302 lower than the previous fiscal year, per Womack’s presentation.
The VATRE, if approved, could generate an additional $9.1 million in M&O revenue for the district, district documents state. However, the increased revenue would also trigger an increase in recapture, Chief Financial Officer Marlene Harbeson said.
“The net effect of that is around $4.1 million,” Harbeson said. “[That] is what you would actually see from a revenue standpoint.”
The context
MISD adopted its 2026-27 budget with a projected $6 million shortfall at a July meeting.
This marks the third consecutive year the district has adopted a budget with a projected shortfall, with a nearly $7 million shortfall in fiscal year 2025-26 and an approximately $21 million shortfall in fiscal year 2024-25.
Amid financial challenges, district officials have also implemented various staffing reductions and financial efficiencies in recent years, including repurposing three elementary campuses.
"McKinney ISD has spent the last two years reducing our budget and finding ways to save money before going to the voters," Superintendent Shawn Pratt said in the release. "We have reduced expenses, repurposed facilities to save $3 million annually, and made difficult staffing and budget decisions. This election gives our community the ability to consider proposals that will maintain competitive teacher salaries and fund student programs, upgrade existing facilities, and build new schools."
Quote of note
“I want our community to thrive and you just simply cannot have a thriving community without great public schools and we cannot have great public schools if we are not paying our staff appropriately,” Dankel said.
Looking ahead
The last day to register to vote in the November election is Oct. 5. Early voting begins Oct. 19 and ends Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3. For more information on the upcoming election, visit www.collincountytx.gov/elections. Additional details on the bond propositions and VATRE can be found on the district’s website at https://bit.ly/misdelection2026.
