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.

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.

The Carrollton-based restaurant, Yo! Bowl has opened its second location in Plano.

The gist: Yo! Bowl has customizable bowls with mifen, a traditional southwest Chinese rice noodle per previous reporting. Customers can choose their preferred broth, protein, vegetables, toppings and spice level.

The Second Annual North Texas Bookstore Crawl runs throughout August and features 33 independently owned bookstores.

This year’s event runs Aug. 1-31 and includes bookstores from Grapevine, Plano, McKinney, Denton and Fort Worth.

The overview: The North Texas Bookstore Crawl was inspired by similar events that take place in Austin and Houston, and is meant to encourage readers to check out local independent bookstores throughout North Texas, per the news release. 

Throughout August, individuals can pick up a passport from participating bookstores or download one online and collect stamps across North Texas. 

Quote of note: "We were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm for last year's inaugural Crawl," said Katy Lemieux, co-owner of Talking Animals Books, in a news release. "We chose August because it is relatively slow for sales at the end of summer, and we all saw huge increases in revenue during August 2025. Independent bookstores aren't competitors, we're truly collaborators.”