🌮 Prosper water bills are about to jump

Hey neighbor 👋 Welcome to the very first Taco & Tell, your weekly rundown of what's opening, what's being built, and what local government decided in Frisco, Prosper, McKinney, Celina and Little Elm. We read the city council agendas so you don't have to. Since this is issue one, we're reaching back a little to catch you up on the first half of September.

The big one: Prosper's water and sewer rates are going up 💧

The Prosper Town Council approved new utility rates on Sept. 8, and they're not small. Water rates go up 13.95% and wastewater (sewer) rates go up 17.96%. Town staff say a typical household, one that uses 13,000 gallons of water and sends 7,000 gallons down the drain each month, will see its combined bill rise from $177.70 to $205. That's about $27 more a month, or enough for a very nice taco order every few weeks.

The reason is pipes and plants, not people. Over the next two years Prosper expects to borrow nearly $33 million for its share of the Doe Branch Water Reclamation Plant expansion, a $269 million wastewater project the town shares with Celina. Town staff also said this is the largest of several increases planned through 2031.

Before you panic: the new rates take effect Oct. 15, so your November bill is the first one that will show them. The library is tweaking its fees too: 3D printing moves from $1 an hour to 20 cents per gram of plastic, and printing becomes 15 cents a side for black and white and 50 cents for color.

Why it matters: Prosper also kept its property tax rate at 50.5 cents per $100 of value this month, but the town says the average yearly city tax bill still rises from about $3,518 to $3,633. That's even though the average home's market value dipped almost 3% (more on that odd math below). Put the two together and the cost of living in a fast-growing town is creeping up, even when the headline rate stays flat. Our read: town staff say they're hunting for a way to pay for a U.S. 380 water line relocation without new debt, and that is the thing to watch if you want future increases to be smaller.

Frisco

Frisco holds its tax rate for the ninth year in a row

The Frisco City Council adopted a $330.5 million budget on Sept. 15 and kept the property tax rate at about 42.55 cents per $100 of value. That's nine straight years without a rate increase. Because home values rose (the average taxable home is now about $608,520), the city says the typical homeowner's city tax bill will still go up about $8 a month. The budget also adds 31 full-time jobs and puts $150.7 million toward police and fire. One thing to know: water, sewer and stormwater rates are rising too, adding about $10.72 a month to the average home bill, mostly because the regional water district that sells Frisco its water is charging more. So your property tax barely moves, but your water bill gets a little thirstier. All of it takes effect Oct. 1.

Frisco ISD keeps its rate flat and asks for help planning the next bond

The Frisco ISD school board kept its tax rate at $1.0194 per $100 of value. The district says the average home value rose from about $551,000 to $565,000, so the average school tax bill still goes up about $141 a year. The bigger news: Frisco ISD is forming a committee to study a possible bond election in May 2027, after voters turned down the 2024 bond. Applications opened Monday and close Friday, Sept. 25. The committee starts meeting in late October. If you've ever had opinions about school buildings at a dinner party, this is your chance to have them in an official setting.

A 122-acre park built for bikes opens Saturday 🚲

Frisco's Northwest Community Park, on Teel Parkway near the PGA of America headquarters, opens this Saturday, Sept. 19. It was first planned for sports fields, but the land's hills made it better for trails, so the city built a park aimed at cyclists of every level. Most of the trails are rated easy, with a few intermediate and advanced runs, plus a prairie overlook with ramps for riders who like a little speed. There's also a splash pad, playgrounds, shade structures and restrooms. It opens about three months later than the original June target, which in park years is basically on time.

Prosper

The data center plan near Parvin Road is withdrawn

Project Tomahawk, a proposed data center campus on about 37 acres near Parvin Road and FM 1385, was withdrawn before it reached the Town Council on Sept. 8. The plan called for about 225,000 square feet of buildings and an estimated $580 million investment. Prosper's Planning and Zoning Commission had already recommended denial 7 to 0 on Sept. 1, after more than an hour of residents speaking against it. Mayor David Bristol summed up what he heard: "write the rules first." The developer said it doesn't want to go where it isn't wanted. The application is closed, so any new version would have to start over with fresh public notices and hearings. What's next: watch for the town to draft data center rules. For now, the only thing processing data at Parvin Road is the cows.

Prosper's Venice-style village goes to the council Tuesday

The Marco, a proposed village built around a lagoon and boat-sized canals, is scheduled for a Town Council vote on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The 143-acre site sits at the northeast corner of the Dallas North Tollway and U.S. 380. Plans include a public square, a performing arts venue, two hotels, about 1 million square feet of offices and up to 4,400 homes, with traffic and parking pushed to the edges so the waterfront stays walkable. The developer, Jeffory Blackard, built Adriatica Village in McKinney. Prosper's Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 4 to 2 in August. Gondolas have not been promised, but we're asking.

McKinney

Six McKinney road projects, and when the cones go away 🚧

The city's latest update shows progress on several road projects. Utility relocation along State Highway 5 is about 80% done, with lane closures popping up between Elm Street and U.S. 380 until early 2027, when a second phase starts. Medical Center Drive, between Frisco Road and Spur 399, is about 70% done and will become a four-lane divided road. Work is also set to start this month on $13.4 million in intersection upgrades around the planned Sunset Amphitheater. Our read: if you drive State Highway 5 every day, build a few extra minutes into your morning for the next several months.

McKinney is still the best city in America for renters

For the second year in a row, McKinney took the No. 1 spot in RentCafe's national ranking of the best cities for renters, beating 149 other fast-growing cities. Huntsville, Alabama, was second and Austin was third. The average apartment rent here is about $1,683 a month, down almost 2% from a year ago, partly because so many new apartment buildings have opened. The flip side: a city housing study found that the cheapest apartments are still hard to find for lower-income renters. Still, first place two years running is a nice thing to mention to your landlord.

Potbelly throws its Stonebridge Ranch grand opening Saturday 🥪

Potbelly opened its newest shop in early September in the Eldorado Neighborhood Shops near Eldorado Parkway and Stonebridge Drive, and it's holding a grand opening this Saturday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a prize wheel and a shot at free food for a year. The owners are a local father and son who plan to open more locations across North and East Texas. It's open daily, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Celina

Downtown Celina gets a $7.5 million facelift 🏛️

The Celina City Council approved a deal on Sept. 8 to bring two downtown properties back to life. The historic Mayer Building at 313 W. Pecan St., a former grocery store, will become a two-story restaurant. And the old gas station at Ohio and Walnut streets will be replaced by a new two-story building with shops, restaurants and offices, designed with a facade that nods to the old station. The developer plans to spend about $7.5 million, and the city will chip in up to $2.3 million in incentives, but only as construction milestones are hit. Mayor Ryan Tubbs said he was sad the gas station couldn't be saved. The Mayer Building work has to start by January 2028, so don't hold your lunch reservation just yet.

Celina's budget grows by $146 million, and the tax rate dips

The Celina City Council adopted a $529.1 million budget and trimmed the property tax rate from about 57.6 cents to 57.2 cents per $100 of value. The city says the average monthly city tax bill falls from about $290 to $277, partly because the average home's taxable value dropped. City Manager Robert Ranc said real tax relief will have to wait until stores and restaurants catch up with all the new rooftops. Right now nearly a third of the city's day-to-day revenue comes from one-time fees paid by developers, which is a little like paying your mortgage with birthday money.

The Bobcats are 2-0, by a combined three points 🏈

Celina High School football opened the season with a 21-19 win over Legacy School of Sport Sciences and then beat Liberty Christian 35-34. That's two wins by a total of three points, which is great for the record and terrible for your blood pressure. The Bobcats are home against Richland on Friday, Sept. 18.

Little Elm

New rules for e-bikes and scooters are on the way

At a Sept. 15 workshop, the Little Elm Town Council looked at a draft ordinance that would add e-bikes to the town's scooter rules. It would use the state's three e-bike classes (the fastest, Class 3, can go about 28 miles per hour with pedaling) and keep riders younger than 15 off Class 3 bikes on public property. Council members asked staff for a few changes, and the ordinance is expected back for a vote on Oct. 13. If your kid has been asking for a Class 3 for their birthday, you might want to wait a month.

A townhome and Montessori plan is put on hold

The council also tabled a request to rezone about 21 acres northwest of West Eldorado Parkway and Oak Grove Parkway for townhomes and a Montessori school. It's expected back on Oct. 13. Tabling just means the council wants more time or more information before it votes.

Autumn Fest is this weekend 🎡

Little Elm's Autumn Fest runs Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 17 to 20, at Little Elm Park. Carnival ride wristbands are $25 in advance or $30 at the gate. Admission is free Thursday, $5 Friday, $10 Saturday and $5 Sunday. Friday night, Reputation, a Taylor Swift tribute band, plays from 7 to 9 p.m., and Saturday brings Topanga at the same time. Sunday is a Hispanic Heritage celebration. Pro tip: the funnel cake line is shortest on Thursday.

Why your tax bill can rise when the rate doesn't 🧾

You'll hear "the rate stayed flat" a lot this month, so here's the quick version. Your property tax bill is your home's taxable value times the rate, split among your city, your county, your school district and a few others. When values rise, a flat rate still brings in more money, which is why Frisco and Frisco ISD held their rates and still expect bigger average bills.

Prosper shows the sneakier version. If you have a homestead exemption, Texas caps how fast your home's taxable value can grow, at 10% a year. So if your home's market value shot up a few years ago, your taxable value is still catching up, even in a year when market values slip. That's how Prosper's average bill can rise while home values fall.

Collin County went a step further. On Monday, Sept. 14, county commissioners voted 4 to 1 to raise the county rate from about 14.93 cents to 15.14 cents per $100 of value, the county's first rate increase since 1993. County Judge Chris Hill voted no. The county's new budget is $619.6 million. That's separate from the $817.5 million county bond voters will decide on Nov. 3, which we'll walk through before early voting starts.

Weekend plans 🍂

Northwest Community Park grand opening, Frisco: Saturday, Sept. 19, 8 to 10 a.m. at 13770 Teel Parkway, with a ribbon cutting, a fun run and refreshments. Frisco events calendar
Autumn Fest, Little Elm: Thursday through Sunday at Little Elm Park, with rides, food and live music. Details
Potbelly grand opening, McKinney: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Eldorado Parkway and Stonebridge Drive.
Friday night football, Celina: the unbeaten Bobcats host Richland on Friday, Sept. 18.

New and coming soon 👀

Red's on Main (Frisco, 3288 Main St.) reopened Sept. 9, about a month after closing temporarily to look for more funding. The smash burgers are back, plus some new menu items.
BreadHaus (Frisco, on FM 423) opened Sept. 5, selling sourdough, cookies and pretzels made without commercial yeast. The family business has been baking in Grapevine since 1996.
Tin Star plans to bring its tacos back to McKinney this month, after about a decade away, with a full bar and many of its original 1999 recipes. A Frisco location is planned for spring 2027.

Dates to know 📅

Sept. 22: Prosper Town Council is scheduled to vote on The Marco.
Sept. 25: Last day to apply for the Frisco ISD bond committee.
Oct. 1: New city budgets and tax rates take effect in Frisco, Prosper and Celina.
Oct. 5: Last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election.
Oct. 13: Little Elm Town Council takes up e-bike rules and the townhome rezoning.
Oct. 15: Prosper's new water and wastewater rates take effect.
Nov. 3: Election Day.

That's issue one. Go ride the new trails, eat a funnel cake, and maybe take shorter showers in Prosper. If a friend just moved here, forward this along. See you next Thursday!

— Taco & Tell