(Image Credit: Curtis Goodrum / CFJC Today)

By Curtis Goodrum

BUDGET MEETING

Residents express mixed opinions at City of Kamloops budget meeting Monday

Jan 27, 2026 | 2:36 PM

KAMLOOPS – On Monday evening (Jan. 26), Kamloops residents gathered at McArthur Island for a 2026 budget presentation from Kamloops city staff. The presentation allowed community members to ask staff and council questions about the proposed property tax increase.

“We’re seeing a lot of spending to try to fix an environment and situations that have had impacts on the federal and provincial governments, and trying to keep the city where we’re going in the right direction. It’s trying to balance growth and development, with keeping the city where it needs to be and what we’re doing,” said David Hallinan, the corporate services director at the City of Kamloops.

Attendees had mixed opinions on the potential 7.2 per cent increase, but are still pleased with a lower tax increase than first proposed. 

“I think it’s a challenging year, and a lot of work has gone into finding some reductions to bring the increase down to, sort of, a more tolerable level for folks,” said Kamloops resident Jesse Ritcey.

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“There are some areas where I think the numbers are the numbers. I don’t think that there’s an issue with that. My issue is the city making cuts in the right places. There’s got to be other ways rather than just cutting services,” said Katherine Wunderlich of Kamloops Citizens United. 

“This, I’m afraid, is a classic bait-and-switch. They come in high and we’re supposed to applaud that? They’ve come in at a little over 7 per cent. They did the same thing with the utility issues. They’ve [floated] 15 per cent and then came in at 10 per cent. Then the city said, ‘Aren’t we just wonderful?’”  added Garry Davies.

City staff mentioned during the presentation that Kelowna and Kamloops saw similar tax rises over 12 years, with Kamloops just $8 more. The city aims to go to a similar tax model to Kelowna in future budgets.

“One of the things that we really want to try and do is remove the volatility of it and create something predictable, and seen by members of the public, so they know next year it’s going to be a 6 per cent increase or it’s going to be a 4 per cent increase. They can plan and budget accordingly,” said Hallinan.

More information about the budget can be found on the Let’s Talk Kamloops page. The budget heads back to a Committee of the Whole meeting on February 10.