[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6135135,"mediaKeyId","5676839-aebd62ffaa24af7d0a575a742867e466","parentId",5676839,"title","Plano outlines homestead and senior exemptions: 20% exemption, $40,000 over‑65 exemption, and tax freeze explained","audioSeconds",561,"startMs",641000,"endMs",1202000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5676839-aebd62ffaa24af7d0a575a742867e466&start=641&end=1202","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5676839-aebd62ffaa24af7d0a575a742867e466/thumbnail_641000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6135135/Plano/Collin-County/Texas/Plano-outlines-homestead-and-senior-exemptions-20-exemption-40000-over65-exemption-and-tax-freeze-explained","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6135135-f4ad3240fe18f4199085143dece28665/orig.mp4?Expires=1770713275&Signature=BiZmK3GKPfOxJA-40wKfwdtzq3PzEnSKEyaqYgAKc5T5PKzuABoV5iqf9xLRp0uZueHwka6tVQ9F61rQcGLcnT343HhAYzF7AsKhzmQpTL~ynKQ0i5C6lx1ZuUnb3K3keL8QBwOoKUCcipF68TffS1SDJLpwV5aHeADMwnmggj7YicAu4hZC7Mf~rn1R88m18KR5i~1DtZYFfATWTRHYEBgmZXFFbi6~SryY4yN9gc3OZF3uhYZPF3JZbdIZJbA8M8o8GadqaPUc3v2Zcn4bRbJZl1AWtMb3~eQMUY7YEf6E-rLm~KEzpu7kYbsCYTw40S0QrvlXpcIqoGc~8G1gpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Plano, Texas","date","2025-08-22T12:27:51Z","article","City of Plano budget staff summarized property-tax relief options available to homeowners, including a 20% homestead exemption, a $40,000 exemption for residents 65 and older (or disabled), and a tax freeze for qualifying seniors.

Director of Budget Karen Rhodes Whitley said, “It is important to remember that the city of Plano is one of the few cities in Texas to offer a 20% homestead exemption. This 20% is equal to approximately $594 annually in savings for the average homeowner.” Whitley also described the senior exemptions: “In addition to that, you qualify for $40,000, 65 and over. And in addition to that, we do freeze your taxes once you turn 65.” She explained that the tax freeze keeps the city portion of the tax bill at the amount in place when the homeowner qualified and remains until ownership changes or the property is no longer eligible.

Whitley told listeners that forms and qualification information are available from the appropriate central appraisal district websites (Collin and Denton central appraisal districts) and encouraged residents to apply when approaching eligibility.

The comments were presented as information during the telephone town hall; there were no votes or changes to exemption policies announced. Residents were advised to consult the central appraisal district websites for applications and specific instructions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Telephone Town Hall | 08-21-25","oneSentenceSummary","Budget staff reiterated the city's existing tax relief for homeowners — a 20% homestead exemption, a $40,000 exemption for homeowners age 65 and older or disabled, and a tax freeze for qualifying seniors — and directed residents to central appraisal district websites for forms.","taxTitle","Plano, Collin County, Texas","taxId",2776,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6135140,"Plano to phase road rehabilitation; officials plan 8–10 miles of overlays next year and budget $30M for aging streets",442,913000,1355000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5676839-aebd62ffaa24af7d0a575a742867e466&start=913&end=1355","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5676839-aebd62ffaa24af7d0a575a742867e466/thumbnail_913000.jpg","/articles/6135140/Plano/Collin-County/Texas/Plano-to-phase-road-rehabilitation-officials-plan-810-miles-of-overlays-next-year-and-budget-30M-for-aging-streets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6135140-4e5f4797ebca10dc850d85afd7a11e35/orig.mp4?Expires=1770713275&Signature=HhaXz6bGzYL-aUaUyICpap4S-QK~Fsd8KtktRvcZe0N3B4LCJ8s41pX~uwEKysWs0~CCwEaDNSHdeJIGq~06km2Od1wHcALfKM1vBpetBXgrrou1xTgew5tjkoDVe~c5hg~z0tg4Rc4XjRZURioA85nM9SzxgxS~q-jBQUCSEY17A~t8baEmnSjUw2mD6w4BuZGpGgeFIcDbBGNZVpW4PMlclU1t7BIswF7vHFKnWyGDRTZ7z9t6v1NBRWGT-qWhXsTrRqiTSyYjgiLGIvPRyU4tHYyaT~XdMkfc~TZOsJBYIr9SsbuBhD3bcuK-l5LgpD~9~gFWg60CIsYjEL-rbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Plano public-works and engineering staff told residents the city is using a phased approach to road rehabilitation that starts with underground utility replacement and concrete-panel repair before placing asphalt overlays, and that the recommended budget funds planned work on aging infrastructure.

During the town hall, Director of Public Works Abby Owens said overlays are included for the coming year and staff plan “about 8 to 10 miles of asphalt overlay after we've completed the concrete repairs underneath.” Owens added that the city has completed about 50 miles of overlays so far out of roughly 136 miles of candidate projects.

Caleb Thornhill, the city's director of engineering, explained the sequencing for major corridors such as Parker Road and Park Boulevard: “One of the first things that we have to do to these roads is the utility repairs… Before we put the overlay down, we wanted to replace the utilities so that hopefully, when we do come get to the overlay, we won't have to do many disturbances to the surface.” Thornhill said utility work and concrete-panel replacement are under way and that an overlay is planned once those pieces are finished; in one example he said concrete work could finish by the end of this year with overlay the following spring or summer, subject to weather.

Budget detail provided by Director of Budget Karen Rhodes Whitley quantified capital allocations discussed during the call: staff have planned $30,000,000 specifically for aging street infrastructure in the coming year, included $91,000,000 in the capital improvement program (CIP), and budgeted $47,000,000 in the capital maintenance fund for building and street maintenance. Whitley described these as planned allocations in the recommended budget rather than a completed contract award.

City staff also explained constraints that shape the schedule: more than 50% of Plano roads are older than 30 years, the average design life of a concrete road is about 30–40 years, and the city must balance parallel construction, funding, and staffing limits. Owens said the city prioritizes pavement rehabilitation based on condition scores and utility condition to avoid repeated disturbances to the same corridor.

A resident who called about Parker Road was told utility and concrete work is expected to be finished this year, with overlays to follow in a subsequent construction season. No formal action or contract awards were made during the town hall; the discussion described staff plans and budgeted funding in the recommended budget. The city offered follow-up contact for residents with specific location questions.","City engineers and public-works staff described a phased approach to resurfacing that prioritizes utility replacement and concrete repairs before asphalt overlays. The recommended budget funds $30 million for aging-street infrastructure plus CIP allocations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6135144,"Plano unveils $788 million recommended 2025–26 budget; tax-rate ceiling posted at 44.06¢",506,343000,849000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5676839-aebd62ffaa24af7d0a575a742867e466&start=343&end=849","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5676839-aebd62ffaa24af7d0a575a742867e466/thumbnail_343000.jpg","/articles/6135144/Plano/Collin-County/Texas/Plano-unveils-788-million-recommended-202526-budget-tax-rate-ceiling-posted-at-4406","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6135144-d0c5f4104ca66f89a857b33cb54a603a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770713275&Signature=BO2bzcYnPNiQwxIf0~USeBcGdje9MGqDBGTYApgarbNpUF8vxtjjdYcQ3ozUz~Z58uMTS1MMhTbKGRxriBwjrIWKOSF0zWww9wYV0D7WBWbOh1GsOk2FNdM-Mgm7kLJ~lOAAKenxtkTwgJfACiP6JNmBj9HX7GofW9rcAAWwZZHaGYIFslF0NExI7uq1clHSjtCjFmoAATtQrH895rERmol6tgbMtAMH3VbWJq3YFq8jWcCZKiSR277PYXtqBYX0MPwbK3LtkUZ~MPKbh~4-kZlmxZnFU1AOWfSFut7eIRAH4SEGrUiwpJabHL2Z2x-UiXdX4eUckoBE1J0ngNR0iQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Plano presented a $788,000,000 recommended budget for fiscal 2025–26 that keeps the current tax rate while posting a higher legal ceiling and schedules public hearings before adoption. Mayor John Muns and Karen Rhodes Whitley, the city’s director of budget, led the presentation during a city telephone town hall meeting.

City officials said the recommended budget represents a 4% increase over the current adopted budget and continues to prioritize public safety and water and sewer services. “The recommended budget for next fiscal year which starts October 1 totals $788,000,000 and represents a 4% increase over this year's adopted budget,” Director of Budget Karen Rhodes Whitley said.

Why this matters: the city posted a tax-rate ceiling of 44.06¢ per $100 of assessed value as required under Texas truth-in-taxation procedures; the rate actually proposed in the recommended budget is the same as the current year, 41.76¢ per $100. The council will discuss the tax rate at a public hearing scheduled for Monday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. and is scheduled to adopt the operating budget, the community investment program (CIP), and set the tax rate on Monday, Sept. 8.

City officials told residents the recommended budget includes no new programs or services and focuses on maintaining and improving the city’s infrastructure while protecting the city’s AAA bond rating. “The budget focus this year is to maintain and improve our $2,800,000,000 growing infrastructure by ensuring our capital maintenance fund is adequately funded… and to continue to attract and retain our greatest asset, our employees,” Whitley said. She added that public safety and water and sewer account for $447,000,000, or 57% of the annual budget.

Staff also presented revenue assumptions underlying the budget. The city reestimated sales tax receipts at $125,000,000 for the current year and projected $123,000,000 in the budget for next year using a three-year average, less audit adjustments and plus inflation. Whitley cautioned that sales-tax growth may flatten: she said the city remains “cautiously optimistic” and that amounts above the three-year average would be used for one-time expenditures such as transfers to the capital maintenance fund or the rainy-day fund.

Whitley summarized taxable value projections from local appraisal districts: certified values from Collin and Denton central appraisal districts project total assessed property values of $65,000,000,000, including $650,000,000 in new property and an existing property increase of $1,700,000,000. She said the total change in the tax base is projected at $2,400,000,000. The budget presentation also noted the city offers a 20% homestead exemption and a $40,000 exemption for residents 65 and older, plus a tax freeze for qualifying seniors.

Officials urged residents to participate in the budget process. Whitley said the recommended budget was presented to city council July 30 and invited public participation at the Aug. 25 hearing and the Sept. 8 adoption meeting. For more detailed documents and updates the city directed residents to plano.gov/recommendedbudget and to public libraries for printed materials.

No formal votes were taken during the telephone town hall; the session was an informational presentation and Q&A. The city’s formal budget adoption and tax-rate decision remain scheduled for the council meeting on Sept. 8.","City staff presented a $788 million recommended operating and capital budget for fiscal 2025–26 that holds the current tax rate but posts a higher legal ceiling; council will hold a public hearing Aug. 25 and is scheduled to adopt the budget and set the tax rate Sept. 8.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Plano outlines homestead and senior exemptions: 20% exemption, $40,000 over‑65 exemption, and tax freeze explained

Plano to phase road rehabilitation; officials plan 8–10 miles of overlays next year and budget $30M for aging streets

Plano unveils $788 million recommended 2025–26 budget; tax-rate ceiling posted at 44.06¢