A thriving economy, award-winning schools, outstanding libraries, spacious parkland, internationally-recognized accredited Police and Fire Departments, easy access to four airports, a municipal government willing to partner with business for success, the hometown choice of 243,500 residents and corporate giants, such as JCPenney, EDS, Frito-Lay, Alcatel and Dr. Pepper. That’s Plano, Texas.

   The largest city in Collin County, located 20 miles north of downtown Dallas, Plano continues to garner national accolades for its quality of lifestyle, environmental initiatives and opportunities for economic development.

   In January 2004, CNN Money designated Plano its top place to live in the Western United States (cities over 100,000). This is clearly substantiated by Plano’s citizens, who in a February 2004 survey, ranked Plano as “the best, or one of the best places to live in the Metroplex,” with a 72.7% approval rate.

   Since 1990, Plano citizens have enjoyed no less than four property tax decreases, with the current property tax rate of 45.35 cents per $100 valuation standing strong to enable funding of all existing and new services and programs. Plano is the only city in Collin County offering its residents a 20% Homestead Exemption, and up to $40,000 Disability or Over 65 exemptions. In May 2004, City Council approved a property tax freeze for homeowners over the age of 65, their spouses and the disabled.

   Plano remains the only City in Texas to hold an “AAA” Bond Rating by three of the nation’s top bond rating companies, attesting to its strong tax base and financial management. Attracting and retaining some of the nation’s top Corporate 500 companies and the best small businesses in the region has become the “norm.” A revitalized, award-winning Downtown and cultural arts theatre has made the area a regional “destination,” with the influx of DART light rail opening Plano to thousands of new faces who chose to work, shop and even relocate here.

Plano’s “profile” includes:

• Incorporated in 1873, chartered as a Home Rule City in 1961, designated an All-America City in 1994, 72.5 square mile corporate boundary.

• Superior transportation system supported by four major arteries, DART rail and bus service, easy access to four airports.

• Internationally Accredited Police Department, carrying one of the lowest crime rates for Texas cities over 100,000 population; Class 1 ISO-rated Fire Department Accredited in both fire and emergency medical services.

• Accredited Parks and Recreation Department, three-time recipient of the national Gold Medal for Excellence and Tree City USA designations. 80 park sites, 40 miles of recreational trails, two municipal golf courses, six recreation centers, a Senior Center, five swimming pools, outstanding athletic and tennis facilities, 86,400 square foot full-service convention center.

• A comprehensive Plano Public Library System comprised of five full-service public libraries with public internet access and over 2.5 million checkouts; an award-winning public school system boasting three high school campuses, two community college campuses, four other institutes of higher learning.

• A Superior rated water supply with 258 million gallon daily pump capacity; $1.09 billion in municipal infrastructure assets; Fully automated weekly solid waste and recycling collections with yard waste weekly collection, municipal composting site and household chemical reuse center, Keep Plano Beautiful Commission, multiple winner of Governor’s Community Achievement Award.

• Assessed property value for 2003-04: $20.4 billion, including new property coming online of $435 million (Collin County Central Appraisal District).
 

Information Courtesy of The City Of Plano