Stay informed and support local journalism — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

A virtual public hearing will be held at 2 p.m. CDT Wednesday, July 29, and comments close at 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, TxDOT said.

Collin County Commissioner Darrell Hale says the current proposals do not include widening of any farm-to-market roads “and only a pittance of money” for state highways.

“While the UTP is not a final step prior to the start of project construction, members of the public do have multiple opportunities to engage with and provide comments to their local TxDOT districts during the pre-construction process,” TxDOT said. “Since each project must be awarded funding to proceed, local community engagement and support increases the likelihood of a project receiving funding in the UTP.”

“Contact the state and send them a comment about what you think about the inclusion or exclusion of different state roads (US, SH, and FMs),” Hale said. “Tell them what you are dealing with on what FM, SH, or U.S Highway. Tell them your desires. Nothing will change with no comments. Tell TXDoT what you support and what you need!”

There is an online comment form at surveymonkey.com/r/2027UTPOnlineCommentForm or residents may email [email protected]. Hale said that can also be used to send photos or videos.

To phone in a comment, call 800-430-2070.

The full public involvement link is https://www.txdot.gov/projects/planning/utp/utp-public-involvement.html.

Stay informed and support local journalism — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

The school board will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 4, and a work session on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

District officials are proposing to decrease the total tax rate for property within the Plano ISD by $0.0068 or less than one penny. 

The current total tax rate for 2025-26 is $1.03955 per $100 valuation and the district will consider a proposed 2026-27 rate of $1.03275 per $100 valuation, the voter-approved rate.

The proposed rate is made up of $0.79540 for maintenance and operations and $0.23735 for debt service (interest & sinking) tied to voter-approved bonds. Under the proposed rate, the M&O of $0.80220 would decrease but I&S would remain the same.

The district’s total taxable property value is estimated at $75.22 billion for the current tax year, down slightly from approximately $74.36 billion last year. 

New taxable property value is estimated at about $665.2 million, an increase of roughly 0.89% from the previous year.

Plano ISD’s total appraised property value is listed at approximately $105.76 billion, compared with $100.83 billion during the preceding tax year.

For homeowners, the district estimates taxes on the average residence would increase slightly. Based on a mean taxable home value of $368,605, taxes are projected at $3,807 annually, an increase of $54 from the previous year.

Meeting on June 23, PISD trustees adopted a $691.6 million general operating budget for fiscal year 2026-27 that projects a $44.8 million operating shortfall, reflecting continued pressure from declining enrollment, inflation and state funding formulas that district officials say have not kept pace with rising costs. 

The spending plan anticipates $634.6 million in general fund revenue and $691.6 million in expenditures, with the deficit to be covered through existing fund balance and other financing sources.

District officials said enrollment is expected to fall to about 41,830 students, continuing a multiyear decline driven by lower birth rates, changing demographics, rising housing costs and growing competition from charter schools, private schools and homeschooling. Because state aid is largely based on average daily attendance, fewer students translate directly into lower revenue. While House Bill 2 increased state funding, Plano ISD said the additional money does not fully offset enrollment losses, inflation and growing maintenance needs for aging facilities.

Instruction remains the district’s largest expenditure at about $340.8 million, followed by maintenance and operations at $55.6 million, school leadership at $32 million and guidance and counseling at $27.2 million. 

The budget also includes a 2% salary increase for eligible employees; market-rate pay adjustments and continued health care contributions to retain staff. 

Rising recapture payments, utilities, insurance and transportation costs were identified as major spending pressures, although the district plans to offset some increases through staff attrition tied to declining enrollment, payroll efficiencies and continued zero-based budgeting.

Revenue changes include higher Available School Fund distributions and proceeds from property sales, offset by lower local tax collections resulting from state-mandated tax rate compression, reduced investment earnings and lower reimbursements. 

District leaders said they will continue focusing resources on classroom instruction while seeking operational efficiencies to preserve long-term financial stability despite ongoing funding challenges.

Stay informed and support local journalism — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

Seven artists already have their works hanging in the Murphy Activity Center, and the Parks & Recreation Department is seeking new submissions for the fall show.

The three-month rotating exhibit allows artists to display their works and price them for sale, if they wish. 

Prices of the 17 works now hanging range from $125 to $600.

Special Events Manager Ashley Hudson said the “Arts and Rec” gallery has attracted visitors who heard about the exhibit. But, she said, the city would like to do more to promote it.

“I’m hoping we can have some sort of small event for the artists to have a moment and bring them some exposure,” Hudson said. “It’s in the works.”

The first works went on display in June and will be replaced in September for the fall show, she said. The city is currently accepting works for consideration.

“All visual art mediums are welcome, including — but not limited to — painting, drawing, photography, mixed media, digital art (printed), fiber art and collage,” the rules specify.

Hudson said submissions must be two-dimensional and no more than 24 inches by 36 inches. Canvasses do not need to be framed, but all other works must be mounted in a plain black frame. 

Each artist may submit up to three pieces per exhibition cycle and all works are juried for display.

According to the rules, “Artwork will be evaluated based on artistic quality, creativity, craftsmanship, originality and suitability for display in a public facility.”

The art is hung on the right wall of the main entry hallway to the activity center, 201 N. Murphy Road. But there is plenty of space on the opposite wall or inside the large meeting room.

The artists don’t have to be from Murphy, she added.

“A lot of people either live in Murphy or work around here, but we opened it up to everybody,” Hudson said.

In announcing the program, the city said, “This rotating gallery is designed to showcase local talent and celebrate creativity within our community.”

The submission rules are available at: https://bit.ly/4aY0P6O.

Stay informed and support local journalism — subscribe to Murphy Monitor.

The store is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to  The Murphy Monitor

Time is running out for the Murphy Chamber of Commerce to gather enough signatures to hold a local option election on whether to allow the retail sale of liquor in package stores.

The petition drive to collect 2,698 registered voters began May 17 and runs through Friday, July 17. 

If enough signatures are collected by the deadline and validated by the city secretary, the Murphy City Council would have until Aug. 17 to put the issue on the November ballot.

Read the full story, stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to The Murphy Monitor.

Located on the southwest corner of FM 544 and McCreary Road in Murphy, the store will include a barbecue restaurant with a drive-thru window, deli, bakery, pharmacy and sushi bar. It’s expected to employ 600 partners.

In a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation just before the Nov. 21, 2024, groundbreaking, H-E-B said the store would occupy 122,175 square feet and cost nearly $53.2 million to build. 

The facility also includes a fuel station and car wash of 5,640 square feet costing about $3.3 million, the filing said.

Until now, the closest H-E-Bs to Murphy were on U.S. Highway 80 in Forney, Interstate 30 in Rockwall, Preston Road in Plano, Exchange Parkway in Allen and Eldorado Parkway in McKinney.

Local shoppers have been sharing their excitement about the opening on social media.

“Just moved to Wylie from Houston last month and having shopped at ONLY H-E-B for the last 20+ years, cannot wait for our store to open,” said Cheryl DeLany.

“I’m from a border town down south, born and raised shopping at H-E-B,” said Jojo Guevara. “Now I can say it feels like being back home.”

In addition to the shopping experience, Murphy officials are looking forward to the sales tax revenue as H-E-B joins the Walmart Supercenter as the city’s second big box store.

“We expect the store will draw customers from all around our area,” said Mayor pro tem Scott Smith.

Basic, unprepared grocery items are exempt from state sales tax. But prepared meals, snacks, candy, soft drinks and non-food items are taxed. 

Each month, the city of Murphy gets an allocation check from the state comptroller’s office for two cents out of every taxable dollar spent in the city. The July check, for sales made in May, totaled nearly $450,000.

Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs over 175,000 partners in Texas and Mexico and serves millions of customers from more than 455 stores. It has been in business for 120 years and has annual sales of more than $50 billion.

Stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to  The Murphy Monitor

City officials want parents to know that electric motorcycles are designed to be ridden off-road on private property — not on city streets, sidewalks, trails or parkland.

In a report to the Murphy City Council, Parks & Recreation Director Matt Foster said the battery-powered dirt bikes are prohibited on public land, but most riders and parents don’t know that. 

Foster said battery-assisted bicycles have pedals and are OK on trails and in parks, but the faster, more powerful e-motorcycles without pedals are prohibited.

Read the full story, stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to The Murphy Monitor.

Stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to  The Murphy Monitor

Soccer fans packed the Murphy Central Park Amphitheater Wednesday evening, cheering every goal as the United States advanced to the Round of 16 during a community World Cup watch party hosted by Texas Warriors FC.

The Murphy-based youth soccer club held the event in conjunction with its annual Signing Day celebration. Families began arriving as early as 5 p.m. to enjoy vendors, food trucks, a barbecue plate fundraiser and free cleat customization before the watch party kicked off at 7 p.m.

Fans chanted “USA! USA!” as the United States eliminated Bosnia and Herzegovina from World Cup competition.

The temperature in Murphy was 92 degrees with a light breeze as the Round of 32 match began in Santa Clara, California. A large-screen television on the stage of the Central Park Amphitheater brought the action — complete with Spanish-language commentary — to hundreds of residents gathered beneath more than 20 colorful canopies spread across the hillside.

Folarin Balogun’s early goal brought the crowd to its feet. Fans later booed and groaned when he received a red card that could have sidelined him for the Round of 16 match against Belgium.

The 2-0 victory was sealed by Malik Tillman’s free kick, giving the U.S. men’s national team its first knockout-stage victory since 2002.

Despite the drama on the screen, many young fans alternated between watching the match and creating games of their own as they chased soccer balls across the park.

Even though he was not watching every minute of the game, 9-year-old Arturo of Wylie admitted he could picture himself playing on a World Cup field one day.

“Me? Well, you know, maybe,” Arturo said.

Stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to  The Murphy Monitor