Celina ISD's tax rate for 2026-27 dropped by a fraction of a penny, but the district will still collect more for daily operations.

The board adopted a rate of $1.2088 per $100 of assessed property valuation, down from $1.2089, according to a district announcement published Tuesday, Sept. 1. The required Texas disclosure that accompanied the adoption states the new rate "will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year's tax rate."

The adoption followed a public hearing held during a Monday, Aug. 31, board meeting.

The vote count was not released.

The final rate of $1.2088 is slightly below the $1.2089 rate trustees used as a placeholder when they approved a $131.92 million budget on June 22, the Celina Record reported. That budget represents a $27.8 million increase over last year's $104.1 million spending plan and marks the district's third straight year with no deficit.

The $131.92 million covers the district's eight schools. Celina ISD's enrollment stood at roughly 5,300 as of the 2024-25 school year, and the district — among the fastest-growing in the country — has continued adding students since then. Superintendent Tom Maglisceau leads Celina ISD through a stretch of rapid expansion that included the opening of a 233,000-square-foot career-tech wing at Celina High.

Part of the spending growth goes directly to staff. The board approved a 4% raise at the salary midpoint for teachers and staff at a May 18 meeting, Community Impact reported. For teachers, that translates to an expected salary bump of $2,725.

Board President Kelly Juergens and Chief of Business Resources Melissa Kelly oversaw the budget and tax rate process. The breakdown between the maintenance-and-operations portion and the interest-and-sinking portion of the $1.2088 rate has not been published. The district has not announced when property tax bills reflecting the new rate will be mailed.