Richardson ISD staff have started work on developing the 2026-27 budget, Superintendent Tabitha Branum told the school board at its Dec. 11 meeting.

The details: The board plans on approving the 2026-27 compensation plan, which covers pay increases for teachers and other district employees, in the May 7 meeting. The board members are set to approve the new budget in their June 4 meeting, after a public hearing on the proposed budget and tax rate.

The new tax rate would be adopted Sept. 17, and tax bills with the approved tax rate mailed Oct. 1.

Some context: The 2026-27 budget will also be the first to reflect legislation passed in this year’s Texas legislative session, such as House Bill 2 that restructured school finance.

Quote of note: “Our team has been hard at work the last eight to 10 weeks to make sure that we are prepared to bring forward a menu of different options as we continue to work towards a more balanced budget,” Branum said.

Krispy Krunchy Chicken has opened their second location in Richardson, an employee at the restaurant confirmed. 

The details: Their menu features Cajun-spiced fried chicken, honey biscuits and wings.

The Biscuit Bar is closing its Plano location, according to a social media post made by founders Jake and Janie Burkett.

What you need to know: The pair cite a variety of reasons for the closure, including rising costs and supply chain instability, as well as a failed restructuring sale of the restaurant. In addition to the Plano location at The Boardwalk at Granite Park, Biscuit Bar will be closing all of its Dallas locations, according to the post.

Quote of note: “It is with the heaviest hearts that we share that after seven years of serving the DFW area and Abilene, The Biscuit Bar has closed its doors effective immediately,” the post states.

• 5880 State Highway 121, Ste. 102B, Plano

Texans now have a new database to track the results of local bond propositions and tax rate elections, or TREs, in their communities and across the state.

The details: Texas’ Local Government Bond, Tax, and Project Transparency Database was unveiled after state lawmakers passed House Bill 103 this spring. The new law requires the comptroller to compile information about all bonds, tax rate elections and maintenance tax rate changes proposed by local governments in an election, including:

• Ballot language for all tax-related proposals
• How each tax measure would impact the local tax rate or debt service
• The difference between the adopted tax rate and voter-approval tax rate, if applicable
• The entity’s tax rate for the prior year and the tax rate following the election
• A list of projects funded by each tax measure
• The results of each election, including votes for and against a measure