By Victor Kaisar

TNRD 2026 Budget

TNRD seeking feedback as proposed 2026 budget pegs tax increase at 9.7 per cent

Nov 17, 2025 | 11:30 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) is asking residents for feedback into the 2026 budget, which is currently proposing a 9.7 per cent global tax increase next year.

That’s not necessarily how much taxes will go up, though, as TNRD taxpayers only pay for the services they get from the regional district.

“In 2025, the largest regional TNRD service was solid waste and recycling, which cost residential property owners $35.45 per $100,000 of assessed value (excluding the City of Kamloops, which has its own solid waste service),” the TNRD said in a statement.

“The second-largest regional service is the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library, costing residential property owners $13.43 per $100,000 of assessed value.”

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The TNRD says while its projected operating expenses are up by around $72,000 next year, its net requisition amount it collects from taxpayers is up by about $2.8 million.

“This considers significant and required reserve subsidies from Development Services – Building Standards, and Solid Waste and Recycling, to offset what would be an even larger tax increase otherwise,” a report from Chief Financial Officer Carla Fox said.

A comparison of the 2025 vs 2026 expenditures by TNRD department. (Image Credit: TNRD)

At a special Committee of the Whole meeting earlier this month, TNRD directors proposed a number of cost reductions for several services in the upcoming budget, the impacts of which will be presented at the Dec. 11 board meeting.

The final budget will be adopted at the March 26, 2026 meeting once finalized assessment values are provided by BC Assessment.

Last year, the TNRD’s initial global tax increase was projected to be as high as 12.8 per cent. The 2025 global tax increase was eventually whittled down to 5.9 per cent.

Fox said the projected 9.7 per cent hike next year is mainly due to declining non-tax revenues like reserve subsidies used to offset operating costs, rising operating expenses and reduced surpluses.

“The sustainability of reserve draws to subsidize operations is in question, and at this stage no further recommendations to reduce overall expenditures is being put forward by the CFO as auditor feedback highlights risks to financial stability due to extremely narrow margins,” Fox said.

“As we head toward December and the provisional budget deadline, the board faces critical decisions regarding service levels to manage future tax increases.”

The TNRD says people can review the proposed 2026 budget and a breakdown of costs for each electoral area and member municipality here.

People who have questions are being told to contact the TNRD finance department by email or by using the online form available here.