Plano officials outline $647 million 2025 bond package, answer residents’ questions in telephone town hall

Plano officials on May 3 presented the proposed 2025 bond referendum — a $647 million package of seven propositions — and answered residents’ questions about tax impacts, project locations and timelines during a one‑hour telephone town hall.

Budget Director Karen Rhodes Whitley said the ballot will include seven propositions to fund streets and transportation, public safety facilities and communications, a police training center, fire station work, fleet maintenance, library interior renovation and parks and trails. “On May 3, there will be a special election in Plano,” Whitley said, and the city plans to issue the authorized debt over a four‑ to five‑year period.

The bond package addresses large capital items officials said the city cannot pay for from current cash. Whitley provided the high‑level cost breakdown presented to callers: Proposition A (streets and transportation) about $360.3 million; Proposition B (new police headquarters and public safety communications center) $155 million; Proposition C (police training center) $51 million; Proposition D (fire station work including a new Fire Station 14 and Station 3 replacement) $37 million; Proposition E (fleet maintenance facility) $45 million; Proposition F (Shema Finning Library interior renovations) $1.9 million; and Proposition G (parks and recreation land acquisition, park renovations and a west maintenance facility) $41 million. She also said the total includes an estimated $291 million in interest over a 20‑year period if all projects are…