There will be no quick trip down the ballot for North Texas voters in November. Beyond a marquee Senate race and other statewide, legislative and county contests, Collin County voters will consider $817.5 million in bond package.
Collin County: Roads, parks and more jail space for a growing county.
Collin County voters will decide four bond propositions totaling $817.5 million, including $296.5 million for courthouse and jail projects, $475 million for roads, $6 million for parks and open space and $40 million for an elections and records-storage facility. Each proposition is decided separately.
Officials project the debt-service tax rate could reach 4.95 cents per $100 of assessed value by 2031, up from 4.18 cents. A 0.77-cent difference equals about $27 annually on $350,000 in taxable property value. Bonds would be issued over six years through fiscal 2032. The county could slow sales to avoid tax-rate spikes if revenue growth falls short.
Officials say rapid growth is straining roads, courts and the jail. The package would add 550 jail beds, improve roads and replace leased elections space. Supporters say building now will help the county keep pace and avoid higher land and construction costs.
Critics have focused on the package’s size, possible tax effects and timing. Voters approved $683 million in county bonds in 2023, yet officials say that may not be enough to complete 15 planned courtrooms. Opponents question those estimates and another large round of debt so soon.
Park projects, interest rates and the timing of individual bond sales remain unsettled. Those factors will determine the repayment cost and tax effect, county officials say. Growth could spread costs across more taxpayers, as officials anticipate, but slower growth or higher costs could push the burden closer to the projected maximum.