Committee of the whole meeting (image credit - CFJC Today)
2025 BUDGET

Kamloops council’s Committee of the Whole settles on 9.03 per cent tax increase for 2025

Mar 11, 2025 | 3:20 PM

KAMLOOPS — The final big discussion around the City of Kamloops’ 2025 budget was held on Tuesday (March 11) morning as council used a Committee of the Whole meeting to debate the merits of eight supplemental budget items, with funding proposed to come from a variety of sources, including grants and general taxation. Prior to any supplemental budget items being considered, residents were set to face an 8.42 per cent tax hike.

After discussion, the average tax increase for 2025 settled at 9.03 per cent. That is the rate Kamloops homeowners should expect to see this year before forecast drops over the next few years.

“With everything that we know currently, to lower slightly in 2026 with a little more in 2027 and 2028 and then starting to hopefully lower. Obviously, the further you get out the more uncertainty there is, but down to just over four per cent in 2029,” outlined Dustin Rutsatz, Planning and Procurement Manager for the City of Kamloops.

Among the big ticket items approved during the supplemental budget discussion was to transform Kamloops Fire Rescue Station 6 to a full-time hall, with staffing and a new physical fire hall for the Dallas area.

“What we see in the Station 6 Dallas area is it’s just a paid-on-call component and we have really struggled to maintain a response capability for that area to respond into any calls. We are strictly seeing other career departments coming to augment the response in that area completely,” said Fire Chief Ken Uzeloc.

“I think we have the opportunity here to be proactive — and being proactive I think is a very smart thing to do,” added Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson.

City council also approved bike valets and public cooling amenities, both of which will be funded through the Community Climate Action Fund reserve.

The largest rejection from council came in response to a proposal for a protective services training centre, with council looking for provincial support on the idea.

“If we were to have it here, the intent is we can actually get more of our people through the same training, instead of one or two people every year or two. To get to different courses, we could do more. We could actually host courses here,” said Uzeloc.

“I do agree with what Councillor (Nancy) Bepple is talking about with regards to — we need some support from the provincial government on something like this. For us, as a community, to stand alone and take this on our own, it’s $715,000 of gaming dollars,” said Councillor Kelly Hall.

The 2025 budget will be come forward for adoption at a regular council meeting next month.