Mold Remediation in Frisco, TX

Results will be available on this page on election night.

Voters in the Frisco Independent School District soundly rejected nearly $1.1 billion in bonds and a $.0294 increase in the Voter-Approved Tax Rate on Nov. 5.

The district said the VATRE in Prop. A is needed to help pay competitive salaries and keep the district among the most competitive amid rising inflation and stagnant state funding that hasn't increased since 2019. For Prop. B, the district hopes to build a new building for Staley Middle School and make renovations to 20 other campuses that are nearing 25 years of age. Frisco ISD also plans to update its fleet of aging school buses and make infrastructure improvements district-wide.

Prop. C would provide networking infrastructure improvements and replacement devices for staff and students. Prop. D would build a tennis facility that the district hopes could host local and regional events and remove the need for the district to rent a facility for its use.

Voters considering the following propositions will be asked whether they are "for" or "against" each.

Proposition A -- Voter-Approved Tax Rate Election (VATRE).Ratifying the ad valorem tax rate of $1.056900 per $100 valuation in the Frisco Independent School District for the current year, a rate that will result in an increase of 1.92 percent in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the district for the current year as compared to the preceding year, which is an additional $11,500,000.

Proposition B -- $986 millionThe issuance of bonds in the amount of $986,000,000 for school facilities, with priority given to constructing, renovating, updating, maintaining, securing, and equipping school buildings, the purchase of new school buses, and the levy of taxes sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds. This is a property tax increase.

Proposition C - $88.2 millionThe issuance of bonds in the amount of $88,200,000 for district-wide technology improvements and the levy of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds. This is a property tax increase.

Proposition D - $11.2 millionThe issuance of bonds in the amount of $11,200,000 for a district tennis center and the levy of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds. This is a property tax increase.

Read more about Frisco ISD's bond proposal here.

HOW ARE TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS FUNDED?

Texas school districts are funded by three sources: Federal money, state money and local taxes. Local taxes comprise two tax rates, Maintenance and Operations (M&O) and Interest and Sinking (I&S), set by the school board. M&O is the money used to pay for the day-to-day operations of a school district, including salaries and professional development, utilities, curriculum, building maintenance, and student services. I&S is the money generated from bonds to pay for new buildings, renovations, security, buses and other large expenses. The I&S tax rate is used to repay the bonds. Funding approved for M&O and I&S projects can't be mixed.

HOW CAN BOND MONEY BE SPENT?

Bond money can only be spent on capital projects like new buildings, renovations, security upgrades, land acquisition, and other non-recurring costs. It can't be spent on salaries, staff, utilities, fuel, or other recurring costs. The money repaid from a bond will include interest over time, generally 30 years. Many districts try to repay their bonds early to save on the interest obligation.

WHAT IS A VATRE?

VATRE stands for Voter Approval Tax Rate Elections. If a district needs to increase funding for salaries, daily operating expenses, or other recurring costs, then they have to ask voters to approve of an increase of the M&O Voter Approved Tax Rate (VATR). Many districts hold VATREs to increase M&O funding because they have a deficit. State legislators have not increased funding for schools since 2019, and with inflation and the addition of unfunded mandates, such as adding an armed officer on each campus, many school districts say they are strapped for cash.

'THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE'

A state law requires Texas school districts to include the statement, “This is a property tax increase,” on every ballot proposition. That is true even if the proposition does not increase the tax rate. In their proposals, many Texas school districts say they can issue bonds without increasing the I&S rate. This is often done by taking on new bond debt as old, declining debt is paid off. Read the district's proposal thoroughly to understand whether voting for the bond package will result in a tax rate change. Even without an increase in the tax rate, changes in property tax appraisals could result in a larger tax bill for the property owner.

“We literally have to take it one moment at a time,” Anya reflects, speaking about the life-altering day on June 20th, when everything changed for their family.

FRISCO, Texas — Family and friends showed up to a Monday night middle school football game in Frisco. They came in support of #66 who would normally be taking the field along with his teammates before a freak accident changed everything. For Anya Camper, their family, and her son, SJ, the last four months have been very difficult.

“We literally have to take it one moment at a time,” Anya reflects, speaking about the life-altering day on June 20th, when everything changed for their family.

That was the day her 13-year-old son, Semyon Williams Jr., broke his spine and fractured his neck while diving into a pool to escape a swarm of wasps. SJ is now undergoing routine physical therapy to regain movement of his body.

“It’s not hard, it’s different. You actually have to focus on moving your muscles,” SJ explains. He’s already regained movement in his arms and shoulders, with fingers, legs and toes next on his list.

Despite everything, what hasn’t changed is his spirit—or his humor. SJ would’ve been on the field with his middle school team, playing the offensive line for Cobb Middle. Instead, he made a visit to the field and his teammates immediately swarmed him with support and love.

“Even though he’s not on the field, he’s still part of this team,” Allison Sheets shared. She and a group of Cobb Middle moms organized a fundraiser Monday night to help the family with mounting medical bills.

SJ’s road to recovery is a long one, but Monday night was a reminder that he is not alone on that road. Several Frisco families and friends are rooting for him.

Among SJ's supporters is Emmitt Smith, a Cowboys legend and the NFL's all-time leading rush leader. Smith sent SJ this video voicing his support:

“I think this is going to propel him to bigger and better things,” said SJ's grandfather Louis Camper.

“They’re saying he won’t recover, but like I said, we believe God can do anything,” Anya says with unwavering faith.

The family tells WFAA they are thankful for all the support and love they've received from the community. A GoFundMe page has been created to help the Camper family.

A Frisco development is set to be home to the first Bloomingdale’s store in North Texas that isn’t a discount outlet site.

Fields West, the mix-used site on the northern edge of the city, will feature what’s called a “Bloomie’s,” a smaller-format store by the luxury retailer. It’s set to open in late 2027, according to The Karahan Cos., the developer behind Fields West.

Bloomingdale’s has rolled out four Bloomie’s, including areas around Washington, D.C., Chicago and Seattle along with New Jersey, according to its website. It offers a curated lineup of products.

For example, the New Jersey store is an all-women’s assortment, including contemporary ready-to-wear clothing, beauty, and jewelry.

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“With this expansion into the North Texas market, we look forward to building connections and creating a unique, localized and highly curated shopping experience for the customers in this region,” said Rachel Abeles, senior vice president at Bloomingdale’s.

Fields West is set for office space and multi-family units in addition to more than 300,000 square feet of retail and restaurants. The Karahan Cos. are a development partner for Fields, a planned effort in Frisco that’s already home to the PGA headquarters and is set to have the Universal Kids Resort.

“I spent memorable years of my retail career in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, so I feel extraordinarily excited about the future opening of Bloomie’s,” in Frisco, Catherine Cook, director of stores at Bloomingdale’s, said in a statement. “I’m thrilled that we will be able to provide this vibrant community with a physical space for exploration and discovery of the Bloomingdale’s brand.”

The Karahan Cos. has been involved in North Texas real estate since 1992, including its role as master developer of The Shops at Legacy and the nearby Legacy West office, residential and retail development.