File photo. (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Aaron Schulze

TNRD Budget 2026

Proposed 2026 TNRD tax increase whittled down to 5.3% ahead of final vote

Mar 23, 2026 | 3:24 PM

KAMLOOPS — The average proposed tax increase for residents in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) has been shaved further. 

A report from the TNRD’s finance department shows a proposed tax increase of 5.3 per cent for 2026, down from 6.6 per cent at the time the regional district’s board of directors approved the 2026-2030 Five-Year Provisional Plan in December 2025. The tax spike is further down from the initial draft 9.7 per cent increase presented to the board in November 2025. 

The report being presented during Thursday’s (March 26) TNRD regular board of directors meeting highlighted changes since provisional budget approval. 

The changes include nearly $1.3 million in additional surplus than expected at the end of 2025 due to cost-saving measures by staff, a near $640,000 increase in reserve contributions and an additional $241,000 in revenue due to changes to the regional district’s Solid Waste Management disposal fees. 

While operating expenses within the TNRD are increasing by nearly $220,000 compared to 2025, staff say the tax increase of $1.5 million is due to declining non-tax revenues, reduced surpluses and reducing reliance on reserves to fund operations. 

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In the budget engagement section of its website, the TNRD says nearly $1.9 million in reserve funds are being used as revenue in the 2026 operating budget to offset the tax increase. 

The proposed finalized budget for 2026 would set the average municipal participant tax increase at 4.1 per cent, while the average electoral area participant and average specified service area would see increases of 6.2 and 7.4 per cent, respectively. 

Taxpayers in the TNRD’s 11 member municipalities and 10 electoral areas only pay for services they get from the regional district. For example, Kamloops taxpayers do not pay into TNRD solid waste services as the city operates its own collection system. However, they do pay for services such as libraries and the film commission. 

For its $9.51 million capital plan for 2026, the TNRD says $7.9 million is in costs from projects underway in 2025 while $1.6 million is in newly budgeted projects. Projects include library renovations in Merritt and at the North Kamloops location, a new water treatment plan for the Pritchard Community Water System and a replacement tender for Blackpool Fire Rescue.

A breakdown of costs for each TNRD electoral area and member municipality can be found in the regional district’s 497-page document. 

TNRD board of directors will vote on the proposed finalized budget for 2026 on Thursday (March 26).