The Collin College Wylie Campus, among others, would be expanded if the bond issue passes. Sara Carpenter/Collin College

Collin County voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to approve $600 million in bonds for Collin College expansion projects and four county bond propositions totaling $817.5 million for courts, roads, parks and other public facilities.

The Collin College Board of Trustees unanimously approved calling its bond election during an Aug. 7 meeting. The proposal is part of Destination 2030, the college’s long-range master plan adopted in 2023.

The college says the bond would expand capacity in high-demand academic and workforce programs, respond to enrollment growth and provide facilities in rapidly growing areas. Credit enrollment has increased by more than 31% over the past decade, according to the college, which serves more than 62,000 credit and continuing-education students annually.

Proposition A would authorize $600 million for projects in Phases II and III of Destination 2030.

Phase II projects include workforce and academic buildings or expansions at the McKinney, Wylie, Plano Courtyard Center, Allen Technical and Celina campuses, along with a new Aviation Academy in McKinney.

Phase III would include a Health Sciences expansion at the Frisco Campus, a workforce expansion at the Wylie Campus, a workforce building at the Farmersville Campus and new campuses in Anna and Royse City. The college says the projects would expand capacity in more than 20 high-demand career and technical education pathways.

The proposed bond follows a $600 million bond approved by voters in 2017. Since then, the college says it has opened or completed projects including the Technical Campus, Wylie and Celina campuses, the Farmersville Campus, the Public Safety Training Center, the Frisco Campus IT Center and the McKinney Campus Welcome Center.

Collin College says the proposed bond is not expected to increase the district’s property tax rate, which has remained at $0.08122 since 2018. The college also estimates its annual impact on the local economy at $1.1 billion.

The college’s Committee of 100 reconvened this summer as a Master Plan Steering Committee to review facility conditions, labor-market data, projected enrollment, academic and workforce needs, financial projections and the college’s regional economic impact before trustees approved calling the election.

County bond proposals

The Collin County Commissioners Court adopted an election order Aug. 10 calling for four bond propositions totaling $817.5 million. The county’s proposals are designated as tax increases and would be repaid through property taxes.

Proposition A would provide $296.5 million for court, adult detention, medical and mental health detention, and adult probation facilities.

Proposition B would provide $475 million for non-tolled road and bridge improvements, land and right-of-way acquisitions, and joint county-state and county-city projects.

Proposition C would provide $6 million for parkland acquisition, development and improvements, including joint county-city projects.

Proposition D would provide $40 million for a new elections and records storage facility, including election offices, training and equipment storage, and space for county records and historical documents.

Under the county’s election order, approved bonds could be issued in one or more series and mature over no more than 20 years. The county would levy property taxes sufficient to cover principal and interest payments.

The order lists $1.133 billion in outstanding tax-supported debt principal and $506.3 million in outstanding interest. The county’s property tax rate is 14.9343 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, including 10.7452 cents for maintenance and operations and 4.1891 cents for debt service.

If all four propositions pass and the bonds are issued under the county’s projected financing plan, the maximum interest rate is not expected to exceed 5%, according to the order. Actual interest and tax rates would depend on market conditions, property valuations, population changes and financing decisions.

Voting information

The election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. The last day to register to vote was Oct. 5, and early voting runs Oct. 19-30.

Early voting hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 19-23; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 24; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 25; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 26-30.

On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Collin County voters may cast ballots at any designated countywide vote center. The main early voting location is the Collin County Elections Office, 2010 Redbud Blvd., Suite 102, in McKinney.

Voters can find registration information, polling locations and election updates at collincountytx.gov/Elections or by calling the Collin County Elections Department at 972-424-1460. More information about the college proposal is available in Collin College’s Destination 2030 and Bond 2026 materials.

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