Stand for McKinney's Future

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- July 13, 2026

Airport Spending Secrets? Taxpayers Left in the Dark

McKINNEY, Texas — The recent decision to halt the City's Travis County lawsuit against the North Texas Conservation Association (NTCA) and McKinney residents may have ended one chapter in the airport dispute, but it has also reinforced a larger concern: the continued pattern of spending taxpayer dollars while limiting public transparency and accountability.

For months, residents have questioned not only the proposed expansion of McKinney National Airport but also the process used to move the project forward. From litigation expenses to airline incentive agreements and long-term debt obligations, taxpayers are being asked to shoulder significant financial commitments while many questions remain unanswered.

One of the most recent examples involves the City's decision to pursue litigation in Travis County after NTCA had already filed suit in Collin County. After substantial taxpayer resources were spent retaining outside counsel and pursuing the case in Austin, the parties ultimately agreed to abate the lawsuit, bringing those proceedings to a halt.

Taxpayers deserve to know how much was spent pursuing a lawsuit that is no longer moving forward and whether those expenditures were necessary in the first place.

At the same time, the City has entered into an agreement with Avelo Airlines, a carrier that has accepted millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded incentives from communities across the country. Several of those communities have later seen routes reduced or eliminated, raising serious concerns about whether taxpayers are left bearing the financial risk while the airline simply moves on to the next incentive package.

While economic development partnerships can benefit communities when structured appropriately, taxpayers should understand exactly what commitments McKinney has made, what financial protections exist if promised service levels are not maintained, and whether the public investment is justified by measurable long-term benefits.

These questions become even more important when viewed alongside the City's proposed refinancing of airport debt.

City officials have promoted the refinancing as a way to lower annual payments, but extending repayment by approximately 24 years would require taxpayers to continue paying on airport debt for decades longer. While smaller annual payments may appear attractive in the short term, extending the life of the debt could significantly increase the total amount of interest ultimately paid by taxpayers. NTCA also continues to question the proposed use of Economic Development Corporation funds to support airport-related expenditures.

Those funds were established to encourage economic development, and residents deserve confidence that they are being used in a manner consistent with both the law and the public interest.

Equally concerning is the erosion of independent oversight surrounding these financial decisions.

The City has dismantled the traditional system of checks and balances that was intended to exist between City finances and the Economic Development Corporation, abandoning a structure designed to provide independent oversight and protect McKinney taxpayers. Eliminating this critical safeguard reduces accountability and transparency just as residents are being asked to support one of the largest and most consequential public investments in the City's history.

Transparency concerns extend beyond financial oversight.

City officials have repeatedly stated that residents were properly notified of the proposed bond refinancing. However, many citizens maintain they never received meaningful notice regarding the scope of the refinancing, its long-term financial implications, or the opportunity to provide informed public input before key decisions were made.

Public trust depends on more than legal compliance. It depends on open government, complete transparency, and meaningful opportunities for citizens to understand and participate in decisions that will affect the community for generations.

The airport expansion carries significant implications not only for taxpayers but also for surrounding neighborhoods, wildlife habitat, open space, and quality of life. Decisions of this magnitude deserve careful analysis, independent oversight, and full public disclosure before additional financial obligations are imposed.

NTCA will continue fighting to protect taxpayers, preserve North Texas' natural resources, and stop this attempt at irreversible environmental and financial damage to our community. McKinney residents deserve transparency, accountability, and a meaningful voice before decisions with permanent consequences are made

With Gratitude,

The North Texas Conservation Association