The McKinney ISD Board of Trustees voted [unanimously/by a vote of 7-0] Monday night to call a bond and Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election for November 3, 2026.
McKinney ISD voters will consider five propositions. Proposition A is a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) that if approved by voters, would provide additional funding for teacher compensation and student programs. Propositions B through E make up a $500 million bond proposal, which will fund safety and security, technology, facility upgrades and new schools. McKinney ISD's total tax rate will still be 3.79 cents lower than last year and all 5 propositions can be funded within this tax rate.
"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. "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."
The VATRE follows several years of prioritized cuts. Faced with a $23 million deficit in 2024-2025, McKinney ISD reduced staffing and departmental budgets, implemented hiring controls, reviewed programs and operations, and implemented additional efficiencies throughout the district. Before putting any measure on a ballot, the District took these proactive steps to create savings to reduce the remaining shortfall to approximately $6 million.
Proposition A would generate approximately $4.1 million annually after recapture. The funding would help McKinney ISD remain competitive with neighboring districts for teachers and staff while funding classroom programs, student support services, transportation and campus staffing. Without the additional revenue, the district would be required to consider further reductions that would directly affect student programs including Fine Arts, Athletics, Gifted and Talented, and CTE.
According to Mesirow Public Finance’s evaluation in January 2026, McKinney ISD ranks first among the 100 largest school districts in Texas for college readiness and 2nd in College, Career, and Military Readiness (or CCMR), while spending only 2 percent of its budget on administration, about half the statewide average.
The bond proposal was developed by the Long Range Facilities Planning Committee and a McKinney ISD Bond Committee, after a review of facility conditions, enrollment projections, safety needs and the district’s financial capacity. It includes:
Proposition B ($430.95M): School renovations, safety upgrades, two new elementary schools, Career and Technical Education facilities, and new buses.
Proposition C ($62M): Instructional technology and network equipment.
Proposition D ($4.5M): Repairs to the existing training pool.
Proposition E ($2.55M): Turf and track replacement at existing district stadiums.
Major projects, in Proposition B, include the replacement of aging roofs, HVAC units, plumbing and electrical systems; updated safety and emergency communication systems; new elementary schools in areas experiencing enrollment growth; and a shared career and technical education facility developed in partnership with Collin College.
The partnership with Collin College would allow the district and college to share the cost of one career training facility rather than constructing separate facilities which ultimately saves taxpayers approximately 350 million dollars over the 50 year agreement period. Proposition B would also provide dedicated funding for major repairs, buses and equipment that would otherwise be paid for through the operating budget. District officials estimate this could preserve more than $28 million annually for teacher salaries, classroom programs and daily operations over the life of the bond program.
"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. "McKinney ISD is committed to providing the community with clear, transparent facts so every voter can see the details of all five propositions."
The school district controls the I&S tax rate while the state determines the M&O tax rate, and property values are established by the Collin Central Appraisal District. Individual tax bills may change based on property values, exemptions and other factors, even when the district lowers its tax rate.
Early voting will take place October 19-30. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Additional information about each proposition, proposed projects, financial information, voting locations and frequently asked questions will be available at https://bit.ly/misdelection2026