File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

City Budget

‘It will cost us more in the long run’: non-profit asks Kamloops council not to cut Climate Action Levy again

Apr 1, 2025 | 12:04 PM

KAMLOOPS — A local non-profit group is asking Kamloops Council to maintain funding for the city’s Climate Action Levy.

During Tuesday afternoon’s (April 1) special Committee of the Whole meeting, City of Kamloops’ staff are recommending council reduce the city’s Community Carbon Action Plan Levy by 50 per cent for 2025, then return it to its full contribution for 2026. It follows a 50 per cent reduction in 2024.

According to the budget update provided in Tuesday’s agenda, city staff say the current financial impact of 2025 would be 0.15 per cent of tax-based funding ($220,000). Staff say it costs an average Kamloops household $3.37.

However, the proposed and reduced levy would be 0.075 per cent ($110,000) of tax-based funding, saving the average Kamloops household $1.68.

In a news release issued Tuesday, Transition Kamloops says while it understands council is under pressure to reduce taxes, further reducing the Climate Action Levy would be more of a symbolic move.

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“Giving each taxpayer the equivalent of a free cup of coffee won’t make this year’s tax increase any more appealing and it will cost us more in the long run,” Gisela Ruckert, Transition Kamloops spokesperson, states. “Plus, the B.C. government has announced that the carbon tax will be eliminated this year, and that will ease the city’s financial crunch this year. It makes sense to put some of those savings toward local preparedness.”

Transition Kamloops says the city has been impacted by heatwaves and wildfire in recent years and it’s important to invest in its local health and security. The group says active transportation infrastructure and improved transit helps residents move around the city regardless of age, economic status or mobility.

Ruckert mentions the 10-year Climate Action Levy plan set in 2022. The City of Kamloops was recognized for having the levy set at 0.35 per cent in order to build up $24 million over 10 years to complete local climate action goals.

“If we keep cutting every year, we won’t get close to where we need to be in 10 years,” Ruckert says. “It’s like setting up a savings account for your child’s higher education, and then continually ‘borrowing’ from it. Eventually, the child will graduate, and there won’t be enough money for them to be able to go.”

Transition Kamloops suggests council increase the Climate Action Levy to 0.5 per cent.