Mineola city council approved a budget for 2023 and the property tax rate to support it Monday.

The council set the tax rate at $.5255 per $100 valuation, a drop of about a penny. It includes $.40599 for general operations and $.11951 for debts.

Though the rate is lower, rising values and new property resulted in an 18% increase in tax revenues, primarily due to debt taken on to purchase new fire trucks.

The council also approved an across-the-board 3% increase in water and sewer rates.

The budget is $5,851,457 for general operations and $3,172,523 for the water utility fund.

The council approved recommendations of the Planning and Zoning Commission to rezone property on S. Pacific St. behind the former Goggans Tire to commercial and issue a special use permit for self-storage.