McKinney council approves $942M budget, lower tax rate for FY 2025-26
💵 McKinney City Council approved a $942 million budget and property tax rate for fiscal year 2025-26 during a Sept. 2 meeting.
The budget plans for a tax rate decrease as the city’s property tax base increases and includes funding for 59 new full-time employee positions. The budget will take effect when the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
What you need to know: The $942 million budget was approved along with a decrease in the city’s property tax rate and an increase in water and wastewater utility rates. The property tax rate was approved at $0.412284 per $100 valuation, a slight decrease from last year’s $0.415513 per $100 valuation.
Water rates were increased 4% and wastewater rates were increased 5%. Both rates were increased due to increasing cost of services by the North Texas Municipal Water District.
Budget explained: In FY 2025-26, the general fund budgets for $232.2 million in revenues and $232.2 million in expenses. Both revenues and expenditures increased $12.7 million over the previous fiscal year.
Construction underway for 240-unit Mill Stream Apartments in McKinney
🏗️ A new affordable housing development called Mill Stream Apartment Homes is under construction north of Wilmeth Road in McKinney.
The gist: A specific opening date has not been finalized but officials expect to welcome its first residents in the coming months, Customer Support Specialist Victoria Jutting said in an email. Mill Stream will include 240 apartment homes with a mix of 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom floor plans. Planned on-site amenities include a clubhouse, fitness center, pool, pickleball court and dog park.
🎨 Patchworked throughout downtown McKinney are murals depicting a variety of themes, including florals, culture, historic, politics and more. The murals, many of which are from local artists, have grown in number over the years, with many projects initiated through the city's public art program.
Quote of note: “[McKinney] is excelling in the mural scene,” said Andrea Holmes, a McKinney resident, local muralist and owner of A. Holmes Art Studio. “It's easier to get a mural here. There's a lot more red tape in other cities that make it very difficult for an artist to put art up on a wall."
Dive in deeper: Learn more about some murals in downtown McKinney. This list is not comprehensive.
1. Woman smoking cigar mural at The Guava Tree Cuban Cafe & Cantina: The mural depicts the mother of one of the owners of The Guava Tree restaurant smoking a cigar. Other elements include tropical fruit, "Viva McKinney" lettering and a bright pink background.
Royal Jordanian Airlines to bring flights to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in 2026
✈️ Dallas Fort Worth International Airport will add a new destination in 2026: Jordan.
The details: Royal Jordanian Airlines announced it will launch nonstop service to Queen Aila International Airport in Amman, Jordan, in May 2026, according to a Sept. 3 news release. Royal Jordanian will offer weekly flights four times a week aboard a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 270 seats, according to the news release.
Quote of note: “Welcoming Royal Jordanian to DFW is another exciting step in growing our global network," DFW Airport CEO Chris McLaughlin said in the release. "This new nonstop connection to Amman is a first for North Texas and will expand our reach into the Middle East and further grow DFW’s role as a key international gateway."
