(Photo credit: CFJC Today).

By Stephanie Swensrude

TAX INCREASE

Kamloops Chamber of Commerce ‘pleasantly surprised’ with 2022 property tax increase

Apr 6, 2022 | 5:03 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Chamber of Commerce was pleasantly surprised Tuesday (April 5) when they saw that city council approved a 4.92 per cent property tax increase.

“[It] is a little lower than what we had recommended — so we’re pleased with that,” said executive director Acacia Pangilinan.

Pangilinan had urged the city to keep the increase under 4.99 per cent.

“Our businesses have really gone through a lot, they’ve had tremendous pressure over the last few years, so in order to help them we wanna make sure their taxes don’t increase more than they need to.”

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Around half of the increase will go towards policing, after contract negotiations resulted in Kamloops owing Mounties back pay to 2017. The increase also includes money to hire more officers.

“We also recognize that the largest part of the tax increase this year is that RCMP contract. And our members [and] community members… have told us the need for more policing, so we feel that the city was really realistic with their budget, and we’re happy that they were able to come in under that 4.99,” said Pangilinan.

The increase may come as a shock to homeowners. Last year the increase was less than one per cent — the lowest in ten years. With inflation leading to a higher cost of living, property owners aren’t thrilled with the increase.

“The unfortunate part about Kamloops is we live in the mountains and we’re spread out so much and we want amenities and I think we have to pay for them. Am I happy having to pay more? No. But I think it’s the lesser of the evils,” said one taxpayer.

“I wouldn’t mind [the increase] if I saw some improvement in the situation downtown and in north Kamloops. But I’m doubtful that we’re going to see any change,” said another.

“I mean I think really they should take another look at it. There’s probably things that can be put on hold for another year,” said a homeowner.

But former city councillor John O’Fee says it isn’t easy to find ways to keep the budget low.

“You’ve gotta make decisions on what you’d like less of. Would you like less fire protection, or less police protection? Would you like less garbage pickup? Would you like fewer parks?” said O’Fee.

“Because ultimately cities run on a break even basis. They don’t run on deficits — they’re not legally allowed to run deficits, and so as a consequence what you pay is what you receive in terms of city services.”

Council will finalize the budget at a meeting next week. Property owners can expect tax bills in the mail just after the Victoria Day (May 23) long weekend.