Frequently Asked Questions

Collin College’s proposed package consists of one proposition: Prop A. 

 

Proposition A provides $600 million to fund renovations and expansions at the McKinney Campus, Allen Technical Campus, Frisco Campus, Wylie Campus, Farmersville Campus and the Plano Courtyard Center, including an Aviation Academy and new Collin College campuses in Anna and Royse City.

The total amount of the proposed bond package is $600 million.

The last bond in Collin College was nine years ago.

 

In 2017, Collin County voters approved a $600 million bond package that funded the Technical Campus in Allen, Wylie Campus, Celina Campus, Farmersville Campus, Public Safety Training Center and the Frisco Campus IT Center.

To plan for future enrollment gains while supporting the regional workforce, the college developed Destination 2030, a long-range master plan, segmented into phases. 

 

Phase I focused on the highest-priority projects to address near-term enrollment increases, workforce gaps, and outdated learning spaces. Most projects are complete, with the remainder finishing in 2027.

 

Phase II and Phase III of Destination 2030 focus on expanding access in the county's fastest-growing communities, increasing capacity in high-demand workforce and academic programs, and modernizing existing facilities. 

 

This summer, Collin College reconvened the Committee of 100 to evaluate the college's long-term growth and provide strategic input on Destination 2030. During a series of four meetings held over two months, members reviewed the college’s facility conditions, labor market trends, high-demand academic and workforce programs, financial outlook, and regional economic impact.

 

Following extensive community input, open Q&A, and ongoing feedback throughout the committee process, the Collin College Board of Trustees called for a general obligation bond election during the August 7 meeting to support Phases II and III of the Master Plan. 

Texas community colleges do not receive additional state funding for constructing or renovating campus facilities. Instead, colleges may finance major capital improvements through voter-approved general obligation bonds and other authorized financing methods.

 

By law, a community college must receive voter approval before issuing general obligation bonds and levying property taxes to repay them. Because major construction and renovation projects are too costly to fund through a single year's operating budget, bonds allow the cost to be spread over time. Like a home mortgage, voters authorize the college to borrow funds and repay them over a period of years. The college may levy Interest & Sinking (I&S) taxes only in the amount needed to repay the bonds. The college may levy an Interest & Sinking (I&S) tax only in the amount necessary to meet its annual debt service obligations. If less revenue is needed to repay the bonds in a given year, the I&S tax rate is reduced accordingly. 

The Board of Trustees calls for an election. If the bonds are approved by voters, the bonds are sold to investors. Proceeds are used for approved capital projects.

 

The tax rate is set in two parts: one to cover the operating costs (payroll, supplies, equipment, insurance, utilities, etc.) and the other to pay principal & interest due on the bonds each year. 

Bond money may be used for capital improvements and related costs, such as new college facilities and campuses, expansion and renovations of existing facilities, furniture, technology, and equipment.

Bond money cannot be used for employee salaries, utilities, and other such operating expenses.

The bonds may be issued 45 to 60 days after the bond election. Generally, once a bond issue passes, the college begins design work and the bidding process. Construction can begin several months after the election. To help minimize borrowing costs and align funding with project schedules, the college typically issues bonds in phases as funds are needed, rather than issuing the full amount at one time.

Since 2018, the Collin College tax rate has stayed at $0.08122 and is anticipated to stay at the same rate with the passage of the 2026 bond.

 

In 2023, the Collin College Board of Trustees adopted a residential homestead exemption, providing eligible homeowners with a tax exemption equal to the greater of $5,000 or 20% of the appraised value of their home.

By state law, the ballot language will include the statement "THIS IS A TAX INCREASE." The College’s tax rate is anticipated to remain the same even if the bond passes, but individual tax bills may increase due to increased appraised values beyond the College’s control.

 

Sample Ballot: 

• THIS IS A TAX INCREASE; the issuance of $600,000,000 in bonds for college facilities used for workforce training, career and technical education, and academic instruction and the levying of taxes sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds.

In 2023, the Collin College Board of Trustees approved property tax exemptions of $100,000 for residents over 65 years of age or disabled individuals.

 

To check your exemption status and Collin College tax amount for the current year, visit the Collin Central Appraisal District property search website at https://esearch.collincad.org/, or call the appraisal district office at 469.742.9200.

Veterans who have a 100% disability rating or surviving spouses of a member of the U.S. armed services killed in the line of duty would not see an increase in taxes. 

 

Tax Code Section 11.131 entitles a disabled veteran awarded 100 percent disability compensation due to a service-connected disability and a rating of 100 percent disabled or of individual unemployability to a total property tax exemption on the disabled veteran's residence homestead.

 

Tax Code Section 11.133 entitles a surviving spouse of a member of the U.S. armed services killed or fatally injured in the line of duty to a total property tax exemption on his or her residence homestead if the surviving spouse has not remarried since the death of the armed services member.

By law, the role of any community college or local government during a bond election is to share factual information with the voters so the community may make an informed choice as to whether they wish to support or oppose a bond proposition. The college should also be responsive to citizens’ questions related to the bond issue and ensure voters know when and where they have an opportunity to vote.

If the bond package does not pass, Collin College will explore other legally available funding options; however, planned capital projects may be delayed, modified, or implemented over a longer period.