McKinney City Council held a special meeting today amending the code of ordinances to increase the residential homestead exemption for an individual who is disabled and to discuss moving forward with an interlocal agreement between the city and McKinney ISD.
Homestead exemption
Council members approved increasing the residential homestead exemption for disabled persons from $50,000 to $60,000 to match the homestead tax exemption for residents age 65 and older.
The council approved increasing the homestead tax exemption for residents age 65 and older from $50,000 t00 $60,000 at the City Council meeting June 20.
Interlocal agreement with McKinney ISD
At the meeting, council also discussed an interlocal agreement between the city and MISD. This agreement would waive city development fees for MISD in exchange for use of the facilities by the city.
Council members voted to approve City Manager Paul Grimes to begin putting together for the agreement and work with the school district to determine specifics of the agreement. Before the agreement is put into action, it would go in front of council for a vote.
This is time-sensitive, Grimes said, as MISD would like to start work on an auditorium project at McKinney High School in July.
According to the district, the auditorium project is worth $80,000-$85,000, Grimes said.
Today’s motion gives city staff the OK to move forward with the agreement. This vote does not ratify anything but allows the city to get the ball rolling.
Council Member Tracy Rath wondered what this agreement would mean for other school districts and Collin College.
“Once we open the door, we need to open it for everybody,” she said.
Mayor George Fuller said after the agreement is approved by council, it can be revisited every year or two to make sure it is working for both parties involved.
“Our obligation is McKinney residents,” Fuller said. “If we decide this is the right agreement, we could apply it to other school districts [in the future]."