Wish list for 2027 Legislature backs tolling the Outer Loop and guarding city annexation and zoning power

Celina's City Council is set on Tuesday, Oct. 13, to adopt a list of positions it will carry to the Texas Legislature when lawmakers convene on Jan. 12, 2027, including support for making the Collin County and Denton County Outer Loops toll roads.

The resolution is on the consent agenda. A memo from Strategic Services Director Bradley Kearney says the agenda sets general principles that the mayor, council members, staff and hired consultants can apply when bills come up, rather than taking positions on specific legislation.

Council members first discussed the idea at a June 20 strategic planning retreat and worked through the specific points at a Sept. 8 work session.

The document is built around four areas.

Money and taxes

The city supports keeping the current caps on property tax revenue growth without adding caps on spending, continuing to leave new construction out of those revenue calculations, and protecting funding for police, fire, emergency medical service and emergency management.

Water

Celina backs state investment in new water sources for fast-growing cities, more state money for reservoirs, pipelines, reuse, storage, desalination and conservation, a more regional approach to supply, and faster permitting for critical water projects.

Roads and borrowing

The city wants simple-majority approval kept for voter-approved debt, current flexibility kept for infrastructure and public safety projects tied to new development, and more TxDOT money for roads in fast-growth communities. It also supports letting the two Outer Loops be tolled so main lanes can be built sooner.

Growth

The list asks the state to leave zoning and land-use decisions with local officials, to keep cities' authority in their extraterritorial jurisdictions so development there matches city standards, and to keep existing annexation powers.

What comes after adoption

Staff is in talks with possible legislative affairs consultants, the memo says, and once the agenda is approved and a consultant is hired, the city will draw up a session plan. A trip to Austin for council members and intergovernmental staff is also being planned. The resolution directs that the document be sent to the city's state legislative delegation.

The council meets at 5 p.m. at City Council Chambers, 112 N. Colorado St.

Sources

celinatx.api.civicclerk.com

celinatx.api.civicclerk.com