Plano City Council got a first look at its proposed general fund budget for FY 2026-27 at a meeting July 29.
The city is planning to increase funding for its police and fire departments for new equipment and employees for its proposed $435.5 million budget. Other increases come from maintenance costs for Oak Point Park’s Maintenance Facility, building inspections and additional funds for the city’s planning and parks and recreation departments.
The gist
The city of Plano’s proposed general fund budget of $435.52 million is about a 2.2% increase from its latest estimate of expenses from the previous fiscal year, per city documents. Karen Rhodes-Whitley, director of budget and performance management said nearly half of the city’s budget will go toward public safety and health.
The city is planning to increase its police department’s budget by $1.6 million for the following upgrades:
- One Forensic Comparative Discipline Supervisor
- Two Latent Print Examiners and equipment
- One PISD School Resources Officer and equipment
- Two Mental Health Co-Responders and equipment
- Two Police Technical Services Specialists with vehicle and equipment
- One Police Academy Lieutenant and equipment
- One Lead Background Investigator and equipment
The city’s fire department budget will increase by $2.49 million to help implement the city’s 24/72 shift schedule, which is scheduled to be fully implemented by 2029 per previous reporting. The additional funds will add 22 new firefighter positions.
$35,000 of the $2.49 million will be allocated for the city’s new whole blood program, which is expected to be cost-neutral per previous reporting.
Dig deeper
The city’s planning department will see a total of $444,900 in additional funds for downtown planning, the city’s Master Facilities Study and citywide notices related to Senate Bill 929, which requires a municipality or zoning commission to provide written notice of a public hearing for proposed changes in zoning regulations or boundaries.
The parks and recreation department will see a total of $138,376 in additional funds for forestry maintenance, new swimming pool chemicals for its pools and recreation centers, supplements for a change in the Plano Sports Authority Pickleball Agreement and inflationary costs.
The city is also using increased funds for the following:
- $900,000 for November 2026 tax and bond elections and the May 2027 council member election and run-off
- $13,500 for employee wellness checks in the Public Safety department
- $47,580 for the Oak Point Park Maintenance Facility
- $306,084 for facility contract inflationary costs
- $236,732 for custodial contract modifications
- $156,732 for one Senior Human Resources Analyst and equipment
Looking ahead
City Council will discuss Plano’s proposed budget again Aug. 10. Rhodes-Whitley said council is expected to adopt its budget and tax rate Sept. 14.
Rhodes-Whitley said the city is proposing a tax rate of $0.4376 per $100 of assessed property value for FY 2026-27, which is the same tax rate as the previous year per city documents.
