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supplemental budget

Kamloops council seeks community input for supplemental budget

Feb 21, 2024 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS – Kamloops council is looking for public input on the 2024 budget after holding an information session Tuesday (Feb. 20) evening on the supplemental budget items.

A new sidewalk at Todd Road, streetscaping on Victoria Street and a drainage program capital funding increase are just a few of the eight supplemental budget items on the table for this year.

Only three of the items would be funded through a tax increase. Council now has to determine what items to go ahead with while limiting the tax increase.

In an effort to reduce the impact on the taxpayer, on Tuesday council, voted to cut the climate action levy in half for 2024.

“I think the community remains very aligned in their concerns. Economic pressures are weighing heavily on the environment and our Climate Action Plan is a big part of that as well,” said city councillor Katie Neustaeter. “And you’ll see in the supplemental (budget) asks one that ties into the organics program, our ability to deliver that and reduce contamination, which also saves in fines and fees that the city pays on the back end.”

Tuesday night marked the last public information session for the supplemental items before the budget is finalized, but the city is still looking for community input.

A detailed case about each supplemental budget item, as well as an open discussion for residents, can be found here.

Community members are encouraged to share their opinions before the budget goes back to council on March 5.

“These next couple of weeks are a continued opportunity for the community to tell us what they think of those supplemental items, what their priorities are, if they have concerns with any that are on that list,” Neustaeter said. “And so these next couple of weeks will be about listening and learning and then that decision-making in the room.”