Plano City Council will decide how to allocate nearly $7.2 million in excess sales tax revenue after tabling the discussion at their Feb. 9 meeting.

Some context: Plano has operated under a sales tax cap policy since 2008. The policy uses a three-year average of actual collections, excluding audit adjustments, to forecast revenue for budget projections and protect the city from economic swings.

What you need to know: For the current fiscal year, the city budgeted $124.6 million in sales tax revenue but collected $131.8 million, creating a $7.2 million surplus, according to city documents. Budget Director Karen Rhodes-Whitley said the higher total was driven in part by two large one-time sales tax payments received in August and September. Rhodes-Whitley noted that City Manager Mark Israelson had mentioned the money could be used for a “couple of land purchases” the city was looking at, but no specifics were provided.

Looking ahead: Council will discuss the allocation at its Feb. 23 meeting.

Miniso recently opened in November in east Plano, a business representative said.

What they offer: The retail store sells apparel, electronic and tech accessories, home goods, toys and more. 

• 3420 Ave. K, Ste. 140, Plano

While speaking about Vent-A-Hood—a company founded in Dallas in 1933 and relocated to Richardson in 1961—Vice President of Sales Miles “Bill” Woodall IV, a Marine Corps veteran, oscillates between exuding family pride and offering industry insight.

The facility features a hallway with an image-centric timeline, including a portrait of Woodall’s great-uncle Carr P. Collins, Sr. who financed Vent-A-Hood in 1937 and recruited his nephew, Miles Woodall Jr., to manage the company.

In a nutshell: Vent-A-Hood manufactures home kitchen ventilation and range hoods.

Zooming in: Situated on 9 acres on Greenville Avenue, the company employs 100 people and hires temporary employees as needed. A Vent-A-Hood employee hall of fame plaque lists 35 people reaching their 20-plus-year mark and many others filling in the 25-50-plus-year categories.

• 1000 N. Greenville Ave., Richardson

Here are five updates for road projects around Dallas-Fort Worth. 

1. FM 407 and I-35W intersection improvements
Project: Work includes adding right-turn lanes on the west side of FM 407 and I-35W to improve congestion. The project also includes adding drainage, vehicle deflection walls at the FM 407 and I-35W overpass and pavement markings.
Update: The Denton County Commissioners Court approved a contract with Ed Bell Construction Company during its regular meeting Jan. 30.

• Timeline: Construction will begin in February and take 100 days to complete.
• Cost: $3.03 million
• Funding source: Denton County

• Timeline: summer 2025-summer 2026
• Cost: $3.1 million
• Funding sources: city of McKinney, TxDOT Highway Safety Improvement Project funds

Early in-person voting in Texas’ primary elections begins Feb. 17 and lasts until Feb. 27.

How it works: Texas has an open primary system, where voters decide at the polling place whether to cast ballots in the Democratic or Republican primary. Voters may not participate in both primaries.

What to expect: Voters will be given a ballot with a slate of statewide seats and other races determined by the voting precinct they live in. During early voting, registered voters can visit any polling location in their county.

Candidates who win their primaries will advance to the Nov. 3 midterm election.

Why it matters: Early voting gives registered voters the opportunity to cast their ballots before primary election day March 3.

Voter advocacy groups and experts told Community Impact that a vote in the March primaries is “the most impactful vote” Texans can cast, due to consistently low voter turnout and competition in certain races. Over 18 million Texans are registered to vote, although about one-fifth of registered voters participated in recent primary elections.