Nearly $200 million worth of Celina roadway, public safety and other city projects could see movement in 2025.

A breakdown of the next five years worth of proposed projects—$196.9 million of which is proposed for 2025 alone—was presented to Celina City Council members during an Oct. 8 meeting.

Explained

Celina officials submit a list of upcoming capital improvement projects every year to identify where funds should be spent, according to meeting documents. Capital improvement projects can include drainage, water, wastewater, roadways, emergency services, parks, facilities and information technology.

There will not be any change to Celina residents’ property tax rate as a result of the projects for 2025, according to a meeting presentation.


The details

The $196.9 million earmarked for fiscal year 2024-25 will fund more than just construction, according to a meeting presentation. It will also pay for design fees, studies, contracts, equipment and other fees associated with the city’s upcoming or in-the-works projects.

This includes:
  • Equipment for Fire Station No. 4
  • A drainage study on Smiley Road
  • Technology upgrades for City Council’s chambers
  • A roadway impact fee study
The complete list of Celina’s five-year capital improvement projects includes major city developments including:Only the 2025 projects are set in stone, Ranc said. The projects the city hopes to complete through 2029 are a little more flexible and could change or adjust their timelines, he said.

Funding the projects


The city has multiple sources of funding for the five years of projects, including internal city funds, certificates of obligation bonds and general obligation bonds, according to a meeting presentation.

Certificates of obligation bonds do not require voter authorization and can be approved by council. General obligation bonds are dependent on voter approval. If the city calls for an election and the bond fails, officials must wait three years before calling it again.

City Manager Rob Ranc said certificates of obligation should be used for critical infrastructure projects and general obligation bonds for the others.

Going forward


Council members are expected to discuss and formally approve the five-year projects list during their Nov. 12 meeting.

If the city chooses to call a bond election, they would need to select a bond committee by January, according to a meeting presentation. The committee would then meet regularly before giving their recommendation in July 2025 and call an election that August.