Celina Passes Second Reading of New Budget

Celina’s Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to approve its new budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

The new budget keeps property tax rates the same at 87 cents.

Vice Mayor Donald Haston said not much has changed with the city’s new spending plan from the previous year.

“The general budget is basically similar to last year. There’s really no increase in it,” Haston said. “Of course, with the water and sewer, it does have an increase. But this was an increase that was forced on us by the state that we were forced to raise water rates.”

Current water rates in Celina have been in place since February after being adjusted by the State Comptroller’s Office.

Haston said the budget includes the new water rates handed down from the state earlier this year.

“We had to raise the rate a substantial amount because our revenue wasn’t coming in enough to cover depreciation,” Haston said, “so the rate had to be raised enough to where your revenue takes care of all costs plus depreciation. That’s where the new rate is.”

According to Celina City Hall, residents have paid a base rate of $17.48 for meters and another $7.28 for every 1,000 gallons since February. Residents previously paid a $15 base rate plus $6.25 for every 1,000 gallons over 1,500. The state also increased sewer rates for Celina residents earlier this year.

Aldermen approved the new budget by a unanimous vote during Tuesday’s meeting.