Two candidates are running for Place 2 on the Collin Central Appraisal District Board of Directors in the Nov. 3 election.

The gist: Andrew Cook will compete against Michael G. Smith for the seat.

The background: Cook currently serves in Place 3 on the Board of Directors but chose to run for Place 2 in the upcoming election, he said.

September marks the Joe Farmer Recreation Center’s 30th anniversary in Allen, according to a city Facebook post.

What you need to know: To celebrate the milestone, the Allen Parks and Recreation Department is hosting an all-day '90s-themed event on Sept. 15 with games, giveaways and chances to win prizes.

The specifics: The facility offers group fitness classes for children and adults as well as weight machines, an indoor track, youth camps and more, per its website.

• 1201 E. Bethany Drive, Allen

Across Texas, the taxes that homeowners pay to their local school districts went down by about 13.6% in 2025, one state senator found.

The overview: Across the board, many Texas counties mailed out reduced property tax bills for the 2025 tax year, Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, reported. During a Sept. 1 hearing of the Senate Local Government Committee, he said the average homeowner's property tax bill went down by about $140 last year, falling from $1,037 per year in 2024 to $896 per year in 2025.

Texas' 2026-27 budget includes $51 billion in property tax relief, previous Community Impact reporting shows. Unless the legislature rolls back existing tax exemptions, the state will be required to spend that much or more on tax relief in future bienniums.

How it works: The state does not charge property taxes, meaning homeowners are taxed by local entities such as school districts, cities, counties and municipal utility districts. The Texas Legislature, however, can place limits on how much local governments raise taxes annually and require tax exemptions for certain groups.