McKinney is about 12 miles east of Frisco.
A lawsuit filed in March by the North Texas Conservation Association has challenged the legality of taxpayer funding used for the McKinney airport expansion. The group, composed of local residents and neighbors, argues that the city disregarded voter intent. This legal action coincides with increased scrutiny from the Texas attorney general regarding the city’s financing methods, even as preparations continue for commercial passenger service to begin this fall.
The dispute centers on $30 million in bonds issued last year by the McKinney Community Development Corporation. These bonds, backed by sales tax revenue, were approved by the attorney general to support the airport’s growth, which includes a new commercial terminal. The city is utilizing a federal program from the U.S. Department of Transportation to refinance this debt. According to city officials, this refinancing replaces higher-interest debt with lower-interest terms, providing significant savings for taxpayers and extending the repayment timeline.
McKinney City Council member Patrick Cloutier stated that the council voted to refinance the debt upon becoming eligible earlier this year, noting the move would save millions for the development corporation. The city maintains that the funds have already been spent and that construction is ongoing. City Manager Paul Grimes emphasized that the airport is under construction and that the litigation is not expected to halt or slow the expansion.
The lawsuit asserts that the McKinney City Council ignored the clearly expressed will of the voters. Residents previously rejected two separate bonds for airport improvements: a $50 million proposal in 2015 and a $200 million property-tax-backed bond in 2023. Despite these rejections, the city proceeded with expansion using state funds, city funds, and sales tax revenue bonds from its economic development and community development corporations.
