Frisco Finance

Have you ever wondered how Frisco Finance works, and who is paying for what? My goal is to help demystify Frisco Finance and clarify how your tax dollars are managed and spent. It's also important to understand how Frisco leverages other tax funds to maximize value, keep more money in your pocket, and grow our portfolio. This graphic is by no means the full picture of Frisco Finance, but it gives you a general overview of 4 core buckets that have provided a solid foundation for our city and are vital to Frisco's long-term financial success.

1. There are 2 primary sources of public dollars that help fund our city: Property Tax and Sales Tax.

   1. Property Tax is paid by residents and businesses.

   2. Sales Tax is paid by consumers.

   
   

2. Your Property Taxes help pay for 2 major buckets: the Frisco Independent School District (FISD) and the City of Frisco.

   1. FISD is an independent governing body that handles all the budgeting for Public Education.

      1. This bucket is governed by the volunteer FISD Board of Trustees and managed by the Superintendent and staff.

      2. The current FISD tax rate is $1.0275 per $100 valuation.

      
      

   2. The City of Frisco is completely separate from Frisco ISD and handles all the budgeting for Public Services like roads, police, fire, water, waste removal, the library, senior center, and other public amenities.

      1. The City of Frisco bucket is governed by the volunteer Mayor and City Council, and managed by the City Manager and staff.

      2. The current tax rate for the City of Frisco is $0.425517 per $100 valuation, which has been lowered every year while I've served on City Council.

   
   

3. Sales Tax revenue is paid for by consumers, and 1 cent of every sales tax dollar is divided into 2 buckets: the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the Community Development Corporation (CDC).

   
   

   These 2 buckets are additional revenue streams to assist the City of Frisco in Economic Development and Community Development projects, not relying solely on our residents to fund them. The more people shop, dine, and spend in Frisco, the more these Sales Tax buckets fill up and refill themselves after being used, allowing us to accomplish big things without raising the property tax rate.

   
   

   1. The EDC Bucket was created and approved by Frisco voters in 1991.

      1. The EDC is tasked to create jobs and improve economic opportunities for Frisco residents. This includes corporate incentives and qualified infrastructure grants to secure major employers to Frisco.

      2. The EDC is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, appointed by the Mayor and City Council.

      3. According to State Law, the EDC bucket is technically called a "Type A Corporation" and carries certain restrictions on usage.

      4. The EDC bucket collects 1/2 of 1 cent of every sales tax dollar spent in Frisco.

      
      

   2. The CDC Bucket was created and approved by Frisco voters in 1995.

      1. The CDC is tasked with the promotion and development of community projects, such as sports arenas, arts venues, and parks.

      2. The CDC is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, appointed by the Mayor and City Council.

      3. According to State Law, the CDC bucket is technically called a "Type B Corporation" and carries certain restrictions on usage.

      4. The CDC bucket collects the other 1/2 of 1 cent of every sales tax dollar spent in Frisco.

4. Frisco ISD, the City of Frisco, EDC, and CDC have joined forces on several major projects that deliver significant public value. By working together rather than independently, we have achieved better outcomes for our community. These partnerships not only support business growth and development, but they also create world-class venues that attract visitors, ultimately replenishing our sales tax revenue buckets and fueling Frisco’s continued success.

The following assets are a result of these 4 buckets joining efforts. Each of these facilities are owned by the City of Frisco and managed by a private entity:

• The Ford Center at the Star (Dallas Cowboys)

• The PGA Headquarters (PGA of America)

• Comerica (Dallas Stars)

• Riders Stadium (Frisco Roughriders, affiliate of Texas Rangers )

• Toyota Stadium (FC Dallas)

  
  

Most cities would be thrilled to have just one of these transformative projects driving revenue and delivering public value — but here in Frisco, we have multiple. Our public-private partnerships are the secret sauce that has propelled Frisco from a small Texas town to a nationally-recognized community. These collaborations drive innovation, spark growth, and create lasting opportunities for our city. It’s a testament to the power of visionary leadership and teamwork, ensuring Frisco’s continued success and sustainability well into the future.