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.

Stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to The Sachse News.

The Bond 2027 Committee elected its chair and vice chair Thursday, Oct. 8 before beginning discussions about projects that could be included in a May 1, 2027, bond election.

Danielle Parker, a Realtor, nominated herself to serve as committee chair. Scott McMurdie, who has experience on the city’s Economic Development Corp., also was nominated. The committee elected McMurdie chair in a 4-1 vote, with Parker voting against his selection.

McMurdie then nominated Parker to serve as vice chair. Her selection was approved unanimously.

The committee members are Jermaine McDaniel, Krisleigh Hoermann, McMurdie, Travis Mondok, Chinelo Nwanze, Parker and Rafay Sheikh.

The committee is scheduled to meet twice more before making its recommendation to council, on Oct. 27 and Dec. 8. It also could schedule an additional meeting before submitting its recommendations.

Council has until Feb. 22 to decide whether to call a May 1 election.

All committee meetings are open to the public. At the Oct. 8 meeting, the city announced a new website where residents can follow the bond proposal’s progress, access meeting information and offer feedback. Information is available at www.sachsebond2027.com.

City Secretary Leah Granger encouraged committee members to introduce themselves before selecting their leadership. “You don’t really know each other,” Granger said. Members then briefly discussed their backgrounds, previous committee service and ties to Sachse.

During an Oct. 5 meeting, city staff presented council with an overview of potential Bond 2027 projects. Council members also provided feedback on the committee’s charge.

Logan Thatcher, an assistant to City Manager Gina Nash, opened the discussion about possible projects by identifying four categories of work: major roads, neighborhood streets, public safety and parks.

Thatcher outlined the estimated costs for each category. Major roads projects would cost an estimated $84.6 million, he said.

The neighborhood streets package, which includes work on more than 20 rights-of-way, would cost $14.5 million if approved in its entirety.

The public safety projects include work at Fire Stations No. 1 and No. 2 and the police and public safety storage area. Cost estimates vary, Thatcher said. Fire Station No. 1 improvements range from $3.9 million to $8.4 million; Fire Station No. 2 improvements range from $2.9 million to $6.2 million; and the police and public safety storage project ranges from $6.1 million to $11.9 million.

Committee members noted that Fire Station No. 2 has serious flooding and “water intrusion” issues that need to be addressed.

The parks proposals focus on Heritage Park. One option would improve existing amenities for $6.1 million, while another would expand amenities for $11.7 million.

The combined cost of the proposed projects exceeds $100 million, Thatcher said. However, the city’s current debt capacity is $55.5 million — the amount he said it could spend without increasing taxes.

Stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to The Sachse News.

Dallas County commissioners approved an election order Aug. 11 calling the voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE, for the 2026 tax year.

If approved, the higher tax rate is expected to generate about $102.9 million in additional revenue, according to the county.

Officials say the money would be used for programs focused on reducing homelessness and resolving encampments, increasing access to mental health treatment and supporting programs that provide stable housing.

The proposed 2.4-cent increase is in addition to the county’s voter-approval tax rate. The county’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget is based on an adopted tax rate of $0.248650 per $100 of taxable value.

For a median Dallas County homestead with a taxable value of $268,056, the county estimates the annual county property tax would be $666.52 under the adopted rate.

The county estimates the proposed tax rate election would generate about $1.58 billion in total revenue, including the $102.9 million tied to the VATRE.

The 2.4-cent increase refers to the tax rate itself, not a 2.4% increase in a homeowner’s total property tax bill. The actual impact for individual property owners would depend on the taxable value of their property after exemptions.

Residents can use the county’s property tax impact calculator to estimate how the proposed increase could affect their own tax bill. Taxable property values can be found through the Dallas Central Appraisal District.

The election is required because the county’s proposed tax rate exceeds the voter-approval tax rate allowed under state law.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Qualified Dallas County voters will be able to vote for or against the proposed tax rate.

Stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to The Sachse News.

In the 3rd Congressional District, Republican Rep. Keith Self is seeking his third term in the U.S. House. He is opposed by Democratic nominee Evan Hunt. In the 5th Congressional District, Sachse’s Dallas County residents will decide on Lance Gooden (R) or Chelsey Hockett (D).

Four Republican state representatives are seeking reelection: Katrina Pierson in District 33, Jeff Leach in District 67, Candy Noble in District 89 and Angie Chen Button in District 112.

Democratic challengers include Orlando Lopez in District 33, Jordan Wheatley in District 67, Angie Carraway in District 89 and Zach Herbert in District 112.

Local nonpartisan races include four Wylie ISD board seats. Five candidates are competing for the open Place 2 seat.

Trustees serve four-year terms and represent the district at large, although candidates run for numbered places. Incumbents Stacie Smith, Virdie Montgomery and Jacob Day are seeking reelection in Places 1, 5 and 6, respectively.

Place 2 is open because trustee Mike Williams is not seeking another term. The candidates, in ballot order, are Bonnie Tinsley, Brett Fagan, Brandon Thomas, Sam Satterwhite and Scott Johnson.

Voters will decide on one Dallas County proposal and two Collin County proposals.

Dallas County voters will decide whether to approve a 2.4-cent property tax rate increase intended to help fund efforts to reduce homelessness, address encampments and expand access to mental health and housing programs.

County commissioners approved an election order Aug. 11 calling a voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE, for the 2026 tax year. If approved, the higher rate is expected to generate about $102.9 million in additional revenue, according to the county.

The Collin County Commissioners Court is asking voters to approve $817.5 million in bonds for county facilities, roads and bridges, parks and open space, and a new elections and records storage facility. The proposed six-year program would cover fiscal years 2027 through 2032.

Proposition A: $296.5 million for court, adult detention, medical detention and probation facility projects.

Proposition B: $475 million for non-tolled road and bridge improvements, land purchases and intergovernmental projects.

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

Proposition D: $40 million for a new elections facility with offices, training, equipment and records storage.

Collin College is asking voters to approve $600 million for campus expansions and new facilities. The proposal would fund workforce and academic expansions at the McKinney, Technical, Frisco, Wylie and Farmersville campuses, as well as Courtyard Center in Plano.

It also includes funding for an Aviation Academy in McKinney and new campuses in Anna and Royse City.

The Collin Central Appraisal District Board of Directors has three places on the ballot. Randal Shinn is unopposed for Place 1, and Joe Corcoran is unopposed for Place 3. Place 2 is contested by Michael G. Smith and Andrew Cook.

The Dallas Central Appraisal District Board of Directors election was canceled, and all unopposed candidates have been certified and declared elected. They are Patrick W. Burge in Place 1, Stephen H. Mitchel in Place 2 and Ekambar Singirikonda in Place 3.

Early voting runs Monday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 30.

Stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to The Sachse News

Fall festivities are filling the October calendar, with everything from trick-or-treating and costume contests to a drone show, Halloween parties and other seasonal activities.

Sachse has several events planned throughout the month, while neighboring Wylie will close out the season with one of the area’s largest Halloween traditions.

The city of Sachse’s third annual Fall-O-Ween event will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Heritage Park. Children are invited to dress up and collect candy from vendors at the Trick-or-Treat Market.

Read the full story, stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to  The Sachse News.

Hill’s salary increased from $186,307.23 in fiscal 2026 to $191,539.17 in fiscal 2027, an increase of about $5,232.

Each of the four commissioners will receive $168,101.62, up from $160,816.24. Constables will receive $138,340.78, up from $131,049.44, while justices of the peace will receive $154,150.05, compared with $143,734.76 last year.

Read the full story, stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to  The Sachse News.

Trustees serve four-year terms and, although candidates run for numbered places, represent the district at large. Incumbents Stacie Smith, Virdie Montgomery and Jacob Day are seeking reelection in Places 1, 5 and 6, respectively. Place 2 is open because current trustee Mike Williams is not seeking another term. The five candidates, in ballot order, are Bonnie Tinsley, Brett Fagan, Brandon Thomas, Sam Satterwhite and Scott Johnson.

Place 1

Smith, the incumbent, has served on the Wylie ISD Board of Trustees since 2018 and was board president from 2021 to 2023. Her community involvement includes extensive PTA service, the Wylie ISD Education Foundation, school committees, mentoring and the City & School Partnership Committee. Smith studied business and marketing at Brigham Young University and said she originally ran for the board to advocate for students, teachers, families and taxpayers.

Place 2

Tinsley moved to Wylie in 2020 and has been involved with the Wylie Farmers Market and other community activities. She is president and founder of Skyrocket, a marketing consulting firm serving engineering and architecture firms, and has more than a decade of experience in marketing, strategic communications and technical writing.

Fagan is a Wylie-area business owner, U.S. Army veteran and founder of Ripcord Roofing, a roofing and home restoration company. His background includes more than eight years of roofing experience and 12 years of military service. This is his first campaign for the Wylie ISD Board of Trustees.

Thomas is a seven-year Wylie resident who said his candidacy builds on a lifelong commitment to service, with a focus on strengthening the community and supporting student success. He is a retired U.S. Army officer and former academic excellence director at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. His community involvement includes serving on the board of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and as a member of Congressman Keith Self’s Military Academy Selection Board for Texas’ 3rd Congressional District.

Satterwhite is a former Wylie ISD trustee who served from 2006 to 2009 and a longtime Wylie resident. He spent about 25 years leading the Wylie Economic Development Corporation before retiring in 2020. Satterwhite has cited his decades of community experience and the fact that his three children attended Wylie ISD.

Johnson, a Sachse resident and real estate broker, is also seeking Place 2. He has said his family has been part of the Wylie ISD community for about 20 years. Johnson also participated in CLAAS, a Wylie ISD community leadership program. His campaign emphasizes protecting excellence, preparing for the future and serving every student.

Place 5

Montgomery has served as the Place 5 trustee since 2022. Before joining the board, Montgomery spent many years in Wylie ISD, including serving as Wylie High School principal from 2012 to 2020. He holds degrees in education from Texas Tech University and Sul Ross State University and has decades of experience in education and athletics. The district named its Wylie High School multipurpose facility the Montgomery Center in his honor.

Place 6

Day, the incumbent Place 6 trustee, has served on the board since 2018. A former Wylie ISD engineering and dual-credit teacher, Day holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University. He works as a test engineering manager and has emphasized bringing a former teacher’s perspective and a data-driven approach to board decisions.

The Wylie News’ Voters Guide, featuring information on all eight candidates, will be published Oct. 15.

Early voting runs from Oct. 19 through Oct. 30, and Election Day is Nov. 3.

Stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to The Sachse News

Council members heard from Assistant City Manager Logan Thatcher, who presented a list of potential bond projects that a citizens committee will review and possibly recommend for a May 2027 bond election.

City Manager Gina Nash said the citizens committee will meet three times this fall and winter and could recommend that council call a bond election. Or, it might recommend other funding sources for municipal infrastructure and program improvements.

Read the full story, stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to  The Sachse News.

Family history connected the past and present Thursday, Sept. 24, as the Sachse Historical Society hosted its first Dessert and Learn program at the Sachse Historical Society Museum.

The program, part of the society’s America 250 activities, featured refreshments and a presentation by Tom Washington, who describes himself as a fifth great grandnephew of George Washington.

Washington traced his family lineage to John Washington, an early member of the Washington family in colonial Virginia, and through the family line to George Washington.

Read the full story, stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to The Sachse News.

District officials presented an update on Wylie ISD’s CTE programs during the Board of Trustees meeting Monday, Sept. 21, highlighting continued growth in student participation and industry-based certifications. 

Wylie ISD currently offers 23 CTE programs comprising 110 courses. The district added practicum courses in exercise science and real estate during the 2025-26 school year, while ROTC was also incorporated into CTE as an established four-year pathway. Business, marketing and finance currently serve the most students, followed by health and exercise science.

Read the full story, stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to  The Sachse News.