By Randall Allen

Horizon Reporter

CELINA-City alderman unanimously approved the first reading of the municipality’s 2024-2025 general and water works budget here last week during their May meeting.

Mayor Luke Collins told alderman and the audience about the financial shape of the City of Celina.

“It’s a good budget,” he said.  “At the end of the budget year, our fund balance will be great.

“It will be over a million dollars in the general fund and six or seven hundred thousand in the water fund,” the mayor said. “It has got $200,000 in it for the veteran’s monument, and it has $141,000 in it for the pavement to pave the roads.”

The budget also included a raise for all hourly and contracted employees of the city.

“We owe that healthy fund balance to having good employees that do a good job, make good recommendations, and things to save money,” Collins said.  “Also, good managers.”

Alderman Kenny Westmoreland agreed.

“Good preventative maintenance,” he said.  “(The employees) are doing good things, like fixing water leaks and preventing lightning strikes on vital pumps and things.”

Westmoreland also spoke about wanting to reduce the tax burden on the citizens of Celina.

“Could we look at a reduction in property tax for 2024-2024 year?” he asked.  “It’s something we certainly need to discuss.

“If we do something like this, maybe we can set a precedent for the county to do something—find a way to do a (tax) reduction as well.”

The board agreed to discuss the issue at a future meeting. 

Additionally, alderman approved an auditor recommendation for a general fund budget amendment for previous road paving projects and home grant projects.

They also approved appointing Lee Boles to the Industrial Board to replace Chris Butler, who was appointed during the April 2024 city meeting and has since resigned the position.

The budget will come up for a second and final vote at the next city meeting scheduled for June 11 at 6 p.m.