McKinney ISD voters will decide five propositions on Tuesday, Nov. 3: a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, known as a VATRE, and a $500 million bond package split across four propositions. The Board of Trustees voted Monday night, Aug. 10, to call the election, the district said in an Aug. 11 announcement. Early voting runs Oct. 19 through Oct. 30.
The five propositions
Proposition A is the VATRE. If approved, the district says it would generate approximately $4.1 million a year after recapture, money it would put toward teacher compensation, classroom programs, student support services, transportation and campus staffing. Propositions B through E make up the $500 million bond:
- Proposition B ($430.95 million): school renovations, safety upgrades, two new elementary schools, Career and Technical Education facilities, and new buses.
- Proposition C ($62 million): instructional technology and network equipment.
- Proposition D ($4.5 million): repairs to the existing training pool.
- Proposition E ($2.55 million): turf and track replacement at existing district stadiums.
The district says its total tax rate would still be 3.79 cents lower than last year and that all five propositions can be funded within that rate. It also notes that individual tax bills can change with property values, exemptions and other factors even when the district lowers its rate. The district sets the interest and sinking rate, the state determines the maintenance and operations rate, and property values are set by the Collin Central Appraisal District.
Why the district says it is asking
Superintendent Shawn Pratt said the district spent two years cutting costs before going to voters.
"McKinney ISD has spent the last two years reducing our budget and finding ways to save money before going to the voters," Pratt said in the announcement. "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."
Facing a $23 million deficit in 2024-2025, the district said it reduced staffing and departmental budgets, put hiring controls in place, reviewed programs and operations and found other efficiencies, bringing the remaining shortfall to approximately $6 million. Without the VATRE revenue, the district said it would have to consider further reductions that would directly affect student programs, including Fine Arts, Athletics, Gifted and Talented, and CTE.
