File photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

2026 Budget Update

Service levels, RCMP, transit among areas being explored to trim Kamloops tax increase

Dec 10, 2025 | 9:02 AM

KAMLOOPS — Back in November, Kamloops city council directed staff to come back with ways to cut down the 2026 tax rate after the preliminary figure came in north of 10 per cent. 

City staff provided a brief verbal update on Tuesday (Dec. 9) during the regular council meeting, providing a little bit of insight into what areas they are looking to find savings, including the RCMP and transit operating budgets. 

No firm numbers were discussed on Tuesday but cuts to service levels were not ruled out. Specifics were not made public as no final decisions had been made.

“We did a report on downloading, we started going back through that and started looking at the collateral impact of downloading costs,” noted David Hallinan, director of corporate services, of another budgetary area of concern. “But also response costs that we have been looking at in terms of what is happening, what are we picking up the tab for now that we had not originally anticipate or expect to do. Where are areas that we can push back in terms of expecting the province to be able to take a higher degree of ownership with regard to the actions they are delivering and the impacts that is having in our municipality?”

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Also set to affect the budget was the Tuesday announcement from Fortis that rates will be going up 11 per cent next year. The city uses natural gas to heat buildings and pools in the community. 

There have been some calls from the public, including during a Tuesday protest, to cut staff. Hallinan confirmed staff is investigating that possibility.

“I will be mindful conversations around salaries, wages and employment will not be responded to, simply those are closed matters as far as I’m concerned,” outlined Hallinan, “so we can respect the fact that people have employment relationships with the city and until there is certainty with regard to those, I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment publicly.”