The Plano City Council voted Monday night to call a special election on November 3, 2026 asking voters to authorize venue-related taxes to help finance a proposed redevelopment project that would bring a sports and entertainment arena and future home of the Dallas Stars.

‘Proposition A’ finances the venue project with the following:

Short-term motor vehicle rental tax in city (5% rate or lower)

Event parking tax at venue ($3 or less/vehicle)

Event admissions tax at venue (10% or less/ticket)

Venue facility use tax (professional sports leagues pay $5,000/per game)

Hotel occupancy tax in city (2% of room price)

According to the city, ‘if Prop A is approved, the maximum hotel occupancy tax rate imposed from all sources in the City of Plano would be 15% of the price paid for a room in a hotel.’

The city says the plan calls for a funding approach that relies primarily on revenues generated by the venue and its visitors, while not affecting current property tax rates for Plano residents.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars organization announced on Monday the selection of HNTB as the lead design firm for the organization’s proposed new arena in Plano, marking an important step toward advancing the team’s long-term vision for the future of the franchise in North Texas, according to a press release.

According to a spokesperson for HNTB, two renderings provided to NBC 5 are representative of what the project could include but do not depict the finalized design, which would have to receive final approval by the city.

During the city’s ‘preliminary open meeting’ on Monday at 5 p.m., staff will present feedback gathered at ‘community open houses’ held at the mall in July.

According to the presentation, the open houses were attended by about 600 people, including residents from surrounding cities.

The primary concern surrounding the estimated $1 billion project is traffic, the meetings found, followed by concerns over neighborhood quality of life and noise.

If the council sends Prop A to voters in November, there will be a single decision presented on the ballot of “for” or “against” the venue tax.

According to the city, the election does not determine the future of the arena, it is merely one part of the City’s potential financing plan for the project.

The regular city council meeting begins at 7 p.m. and will include public comment.

The potential special election is Agenda Item 6:

To call a Special Election for a sports and community venue project to be financed with a short-term motor vehicle rental tax, a short-term hotel occupancy tax, an event parking tax, an admissions tax, and a venue facility use tax, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 334 of the Texas Local Government Code; making provision for the conduct of the election; including a repealer clause, a severability clause; setting an effective date; and resolving other matters incident to such election.