Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

MONEY TALKS

Lean city budget means a tiny tax increase for taxpayers of Kamloops

Feb 10, 2021 | 5:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — They say taxes and death are two things you can count on in this life. This year, Kamloops council has kept that count low for city taxpayers.

“Early on, city council decided we want to be as close to zero as possible,” Mayor Ken Christian says. “Staff took that to heart and really pared down a lot of requests this year.”

It’s been billed as the lowest tax increase in a decade by Mayor Ken Christian. At a Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, Kamloops Mayor and Council looked at 15 supplemental budget items, turning down just two. Christian says the items that were approved are considered essential.

“Important improvements to the Kamloops detachment of the RCMP increased fire services for [Kamloops Fire Rescue, issues related to parks technician and arborist,” Christian says.

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One noticeable addition to city staff is a full-time archaeologist position. According to the Mayor, having an archaeologist on staff will not only save the city money on outsourcing that works, but it’s also an acknowledgement of the land the city is built upon.

“We are on the ancestral territory of the Secwepemc people. As we do projects in this environment, we need to be conscious and careful of the archaeological history we’re uncovering,” Christian says. “We have been contracting that service out to the tune of about $300,000 a year. Now it seems more logical to bring that in-house and provide our own archaeological service.”

Council also approved 4500 additional transit hours – 1500 starting in September and 3000 more come 2022. Christian says it’s important to ensure the city is providing high levels of service while trying to remain fiscally responsible during this difficult time.

“It’s a balance. we want to be able to provide the services people expect in the City of Kamloops. We want it to be affordable, especially in this time of crisis.”