Kamloops council (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

2026 TAX RATE

Kamloops council further defers RCMP hiring to cut tax increase to 5.7 per cent

Feb 10, 2026 | 5:07 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops council was back at work Tuesday (Feb. 10), looking to decrease the 2026 property tax rate. Back when the budget process began in late 2025, council was working off a 10.67 per cent average tax increase figure, getting that number down to 7.21 per cent in early January. 

The City of Kamloops was in the middle of a five-year initiative of hiring five new RCMP officers each 12 months. The current council had already voted to defer that process until July, saving half the costs for 2026, but took it a step further Tuesday.

“This was the 50 per cent of the five police officers to be deferred by one year. Council moved to defer half of it and the confusion was if they meant to move half of it or move the full,” said Planning and Procurement Manager Dustin Rutsatz at Tuesday’s meeting. 

By voting for the full deferral of officers, council was able to lower the 2026 tax rate increase to 5.7 per cent. 

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CFJC News has reached out to the RCMP regarding potential impacts of the cut. 

Staff outlined a host of decisions council advised staff to not proceed with at a recent closed meeting of council, including a wage freeze that could have saved $650,000.

(Image Credit: City of Kamloops)

“Pay is one of those core pieces that is a consideration when they are looking to move, which can create some recruitment challenges in the future,” said Director of Corporate Services David Hallinan. “The other is, this initiative could erode pay equity within exempt staff compared to peer municipalities and so therefore we have a risk of people leaving us and not filling positions.”

Council also decided not to lower the temperature in city facilities, reduce sidewalk maintenance or adjust snow clearing. 

(Image Credit: City of Kamloops)

(Image Credit: City of Kamloops)

Looking ahead to 2027, council voted to keep the new Dallas fire hall on track. 

“Building a new hall in 2029 is when we are expecting the debt to be needed for that,” said Rutsatz. “We do have this funded by taxation, currently. That is a placeholder. There is still a chance to revisit that for next year. I don’t have a lot of extra flexibility in funding right now.”

The construction of the new hall in the budget for 2029 would cost $26 million but should pay dividends for residents in the area.

(Image Credit: City of Kamloops)

“With a full-time station, with the tender and if we get the guaranteed shuttle service, it would drop the insurance rates for people in that area who have been paying higher rates,” stated KFR Chief Ken Uzeloc.  

Council, however, voted against a proposal to expand training in Kamloops. 

Remaining in the budget for 2027 is funding for trades apprentice training in the civic operations department.