To maximize local tax dollars, the CISD Board of Trustees called a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE), which would provide an estimated $1.85 million annually to increase compensation for educators, fund safety and security enhancements, and enrich academic course offerings. Celina ISD is not directing voters to choose a particular option on this measure; our goal is to ensure voters are well-informed.

The CISD Board of Trustees has already set the overall tax rate for this year at 1.2358, which is lower than last year’s overall tax rate, and this is the sixth year in a row Celina ISD has reduced the District’s overall tax rate. CISD has reduced its overall tax rate by almost 41 cents since 2019 by making cuts to our Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate each year.

The approximately $1.85 million generated in Maintenance and Operations (M&O) revenue will support revenue necessary for the operation of our schools and district. M&O funding supports staff salaries and raises, academic programming, safety/security enhancements (including school resource officers and equipment), extracurricular activities, insurance, and all utilities.

Texas school district taxes have two components.

A new state law requires very specific language on the ballot that Celina ISD cannot alter in any way. 

“Ratifying the ad valorem tax rate of 1.2358 in Celina Independent School district for the current year, a rate that will result in an increase of 37.64% in maintenance and operations revenue for the district for the current year as compared to the preceding year, which is an additional $10,539,090.”

The CISD Board has already approved the overall tax rate for next year of 1.2358, which is a reduction from last year’s tax rate. A vote “For” CISD’s Special Election will provide for the .0511 I&S tax decrease and the .0511 M&O tax increase, which will provide for an approximately $1.85 million more M&O revenue for CISD operations costs. The overall district tax rate will remain the same at 1.2358. A vote “Against” will not provide any change in I&S or M&O tax rates, and Celina ISD would not receive the additional funding for operations.

A Vote "For"

A Vote "Against"

The CISD Board has already approved the overall tax rate for next year of 1.2358, which is a reduction from last year’s tax rate. This overall tax rate of 1.2358 will remain constant regardless of how our constituents vote in November, and the tax rate will remain lower than last year’s tax rate. In other words, if the homeowners’ appraised value did not increase from 2023 to 2024, they will pay less in school taxes this year, even if the VATRE ballot measure passes.